JK Simmons Praises DC Films' "Gritty" Aesthetic

Despite being shared movie universes with superheroes, the DC Cinematic Universe is very different from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It's not hard to see that DC's movies tend to skew a little bit darker than Marvel's light-hearted fare, and that's what's so appealing according to one actor.

J.K. Simmons, who plays Commissioner Jim Gordon in the movie, recently spoke with Red Carpet News about his time filming Justice League, revealing why he enjoys Warner Bros.' take on capes and powers. Check it out in the clip above!

"I'm really, really excited to see it and to be a part of the DC Universe, which is a little grittier," said Simmons. "Although having said that, I think there's a fair amount of levity in this incarnation too that Ben brings to it- that everybody brings to it."

Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Suicide Squad were all slightly darker takes on superhero stories, arguably more so than Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy. Though some fans criticized the bleak outlook of the films, Wonder Woman was a little more light hearted despite prominently featuring tragedies of war.

Simmons' comments seem to indicate that Justice League will continue down the path established by Wonder Woman, and Zack Snyder has gone on the record to say that he always intended for the Justice League to birth hope out of darkness.

The clips featuring Simmons' take on Gotham City's most famous police officer are all pretty humorous, with Aquaman and Batman trading barbs and the Flash commenting on how rude it is for people to disappear on him when he turns his back.

Simmons said his character doesn't feature prominently in the film but he hopes to appear in future installments. Though Joss Whedon handled the reshoots, taking over from Zack Snyder, Simmons was not required on set at all for those scenes. It doesn't sound like Whedon is cutting Simmons' role out, a la Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor, but that the scenes Snyder captured with the actor were substantial enough.

We'll find out how it all turns out when Justice League premieres in theaters on November 17.