Why Is J.K. Simmons Buff? 'Whiplash' Actor Explains 'Justice League' Workout

A couple of weeks back, a picture of Oscar-winning actor J.K. Simmons going hard on his workout routine went viral, prompting rumors that he was actually buffing up for his next role as Commissioner James Gordon in Justice League. Finally, the Whiplash actor talks about his exercise routine -- and it has little to do with the Zack Snyder movie.

Business Insider recently talked to the Kung Fu Panda 3 actor about the insane shape he's been getting in lately, which is impressive for anyone and even more so for a 61-year-old. It turns out, however, that he's not doing this for any role.

"This is all coincidental," the actor said when asked if he'd amassed all this muscle to play the Gotham City Police Commissioner. "After the second and final time that I got hugely fat in my life and when I lost that weight six or seven years ago, I pretty much decided that I was going to stay in decent shape for the rest of my life."

So, basically, Simmons just likes staying in shape -- and, by "in shape," we mean perfectly able to kick anyone who comes even close.

 Every time we train together I forget he's 61 years old. So much respect for this guy. #JKSimmons #OldManCranking

A photo posted by Aaron Williamson (@aaronvwilliamson) on Jun 2 2016 at 8:52 PDT

Talk about Simmons' muscular figure arose a couple of weeks back, when Aaron Williamson, the personal trainer who worked with Emilia Clarke on Terminator: Genysis, posted a picture of the actor lifting weights that made him look downright huge. Many then wondered whether this was his twist on Jim Gordon, as perhaps the character was going to get more physical that we're used to seeing on film.

During the same interview, Simmons also said he wouldn't "mess with something that iconic," speaking specifically about his casting as Commissioner Gordon. Right before him, Oscar nominee Gary Oldman played the iconic comic book cop in Christopher Nolan's Dark Kight trilogy.

This is, of course, not the first time Simmons steps into the shoes of an iconic comic book character. He played J. Jonah Jameson, the head of the Daily Bugle and Peter Parker's boss, in the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man trilogy, and he's also voiced the role on animation for years.

via GIPHY

Justice League, currently filming, will bring back the characters from this year's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, adding a much larger cast that will also include Simmons' fellow Spider-Man alum Willem Dafoe as well as Amber Heard.

Justice League will hit theaters on Nov. 17, 2017.