Spoilers for “Invincible” season 4, episodes 1-3 forward.
“Invincible” season 4, episode 1, “Making The World A Higher Place,” introduces Dinosaurus (Matthew Rhys), a brand new super-villain who needs to cull the Earth’s inhabitants to avoid wasting the planet itself. True to his title, he resembles a red-skinned, humanoid T-Rex. However that is solely considered one of his personas; his true kind is the human David Anders, who isn’t a consenting companion to his alter ego’s super-evil plans.Â
The cut up between Anders and Dinosaurus resembles a werewolf, or Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, or Bruce Banner and the Hulk. There’s one other Marvel character, although, who Dinosaurus much more intently resembles. Bear in mind, “Invincible” is basically impressed by Spider-Man, and you’ll see that within the unique comedian e-book’s storytelling and supporting characters. The villain Powerplex and his power absorbing/blasting powers resemble Spider-Man villain Electro, whereas Dinosaurus resembles a special Spidey unhealthy man: Curt Connors/The Lizard.
Debuting in “The Superb Spider-Man” #6 (by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko), Connors is a one-armed scientist who concocts a method from lizard DNA in an try to regrow his misplaced limb. (Some lizards can regrow severed tails.) The method turns Connors right into a humanoid lizard. The Lizard has been portrayed in numerous tales as both a rampaging monster or a twisted scientist who needs to remake humanity in his picture. Dinosaurus has the aggression down, and his eco-terrorist agenda is not far off from the Lizard’s, both.
Whereas he has solely a small half within the episode, “Invincible” comedian followers know that Dinosaurus is destined for an even bigger function down the street, possible in “Invincible” season 5. That is why the present has already solid famous tv actor Matthew Rhys within the half. For those who could not pin down his voice behind Dinosaurus’ roars, here is the place you would possibly’ve seen Rhys earlier than.
You would possibly acknowledge Matthew Rhys as Philip from The People
Matthew Rhys was born in Wales (although you would not understand it from his genuinely flawless American accent) and has an eclectic assortment of film and TV roles to his title. One in every of his earlier roles was because the killer within the final episode of “Columbo,” 2003’s “Columbo Likes the Nightlife.”
From 2006-2011, Rhys was a part of the primary solid on the ABC drama “Brothers & Sisters” as Kevin Walker, one of many titular grownup siblings of the Walker household. After that present’s five-season run, Rhys bought his most well-known half to this point on the spy thriller drama sequence “The People,” which ran for six seasons from 2013-2018. And in contrast to different long-lived TV dramas, “The People” solely bought higher because it went on.
“The People” stars Rhys and Keri Russell (who Rhys has been in an actual relationship with since 2014) as Philip and Elizabeth Jennings, two suburban dad and mom in Nineteen Eighties Washington D.C. who’re truly Soviet sleeper brokers. The sequence interweaves the Jennings’ spycraft with their home lives and, in fact, them making an attempt to maintain their secrets and techniques from their two kids and neighbors. (Many, many wigs are concerned.)
Philip is the extra conflicted of the pair; whereas Elizabeth is a real believer within the communist wrestle, Philip has gone native and enjoys his life as an U.S. citizen. The Jennings’ conflicting views on in the event that they’re extra loyal to their nation or their household is an everlasting, shifting theme on the present. “The People” reels you in with its spy thriller story however captivates you with the Jennings’ marriage drama.
Rhys performed Philip’s struggles so nicely that, in 2018 (on the heels of the present’s ultimate season), he earned a Primetime Emmy for Excellent Lead Actor in a Drama Collection.
Matthew Rhys’ different roles, from Perry Mason to voice performing
“The People” is not the one undertaking that is gotten Matthew Rhys Emmy consideration; he additionally earned a nomination for Excellent Visitor Actor in a Comedy Collection for a one-episode function on HBO’s “Ladies” as Chuck Palmer, an enthralling (and sexually predatory) author. After the top of “The People,” Rhys went again to HBO full-time because the lead of “Perry Mason,” starring Rhys because the titular lawyer in Nineteen Thirties Los Angeles. “Perry Mason” ran for 2 seasons however was canceled after that.
Whereas starring on “The People,” Rhys appeared in Steven Spielberg’s 2017 historic drama “The Submit” as Daniel Ellsberg, the person who leaked the “Pentagon Papers,” or a top-secret evaluation of U.S. involvement within the Vietnam Warfare. Although the pivotal participant in that story, Ellsberg is a supporting character in “The Submit,” which focuses on The Washington Submit — primarily, proprietor Katharine Graham (Meryl Streep) and govt editor Ben Bradlee (Tom Hanks).
Rhys appeared in one other Hanks-led movie in 2019: “A Lovely Day within the Neighborhood,” starring Hanks as Mr. Fred Rogers. Rhys performed Lloyd Vogel, a cynical journalist assigned to profile Mr. Rogers. Most lately, Rhys appeared as legendary comic George Carlin in 2024’s “Saturday Night time,” dramatizing the 1975 premiere of “Saturday Night time Reside.”Â
“Invincible” is not Rhys first time voice performing, both. He is labored on animated sequence equivalent to “BoJack Horseman” and “The Owl Home.” He even starred within the 2024 animated movie adaptation “Watchmen” as Dan Dreiberg/Nite-Owl, an over-the-hill crimefighter. Which means “Invincible” is not Rhys’ first superhero rodeo, and his resume exhibits he greater than matches with the very good voice expertise the present has assembled up to now.
“Invincible” is streaming on Prime Video.
