With J.K. Simmons the latest actor to tackle a live-action depiction of Jim Gordon, the ever-great Simmons has been explaining how we can expect to see a badass version of Batman’s longstanding partner-in-crime.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Simmons enthused about how he’d like to explore the character’s “badass side” in Zack Snyder’s Justice League and beyond. He added, “People of my generation remember Commissioner Gordon as this jolly, ineffectual Santa Claus-type, and I think over the years in the comics there’s definitely much more of a badass side to him. One of the things that’s interesting to me is investigating hopefully a little but more of that badass. You’re living in a universe where it’s pretty tough to be a badass compared to somebody like Batman, but in the universe of non-superheroes I like the idea of Commissioner Gordon as a guy that can take care of himself, a guy that’s a real partner to Batman, not just a guy that turns on the Bat-Signal and goes, ‘Help! Help, Batman!’”

Simmons is a big favourite of many a genre fan, with him memorably having played J. Jonah Jameson in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy being just one highlight of a truly vast and fantastic career. His Jim Gordon will debut in Justice League before going on to work alongside Ben Affleck’s Dark Knight in his upcoming solo movie(s).

This will be the latest live-action incarnation of James W. Gordon, with him having been played by Lyle Talbot in the fifteen-episode 1949 Batman and Robin serial, by Neil Hamilton in the Adam West-starring Batman series and movie, by Pat Hingle in Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever and Batman & Robin, by Gary Oldman in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, and being currently portrayed by Ben McKenzie in FOX’s Gotham. The character has also appeared in various animated offerings, most famously voiced by Bob Hastings in Batman: The Animated Series and many of its various spin-offs and reimaginings.

Only last week, a picture surfaced of the 61-year-old J.K. Simmons looking absolutely ripped, with many speculating that we would be getting a kick-ass take on Gordon. Simmons quickly moved to play down rumours that he had got into such great shape purposely for the role, instead saying it was more just part of his usual lifestyle these days.

You can check out that picture below:

As for Justice League, the official word on that film reads:

Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes – Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash – it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League is currently set for a November 18th, 2017 release.