Invincible showrunner Robert Kirkman has explained why Aaron Paul did not return for season 4.
Based on the comic series written by Kirkman and illustrated by Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley, Invincible follows Mark Grayson as he discovers he has inherited the superpowers of his father, the powerful hero Omni-Man. The adult animated superhero drama features an expansive voice cast that includes Steven Yeun, J.K. Simmons, Sandra Oh, Walton Goggins, Seth Rogen, Mark Hamill, and Zazie Beetz. Paul voiced the villain Powerplex, a technologically enhanced scientist who seeks revenge on Invincible due to his role in the deaths of his niece and sister.
Speaking with RadioTimes, Kirkman explained that Paul’s absence was largely due to scheduling. Kirkman discussed how animation allows creators to stay closer to the source material and noted that Powerplex still exists in the world of Invincible, but his appearances tend to be smaller or more sporadic in the comic storyline. Because of that, it can be difficult to justify bringing in a busy actor for only a brief voice recording session. Read his comments below:
Animation is a different animal. In live action, a lot of times, you have to change how things are written to expand roles and things to maintain having an actor stay on for a role. In animation, there’s a little bit more freedom in following the actual story.
I think that if you look at the Powerplex character, he’s still present, and he, you know, pops up from time to time, but having a real meaty episode that focuses on him, that’s something where you can get Aaron Paul to come in and do a great performance — but it is sometimes difficult to have that same actor come in just for, you know, a scene or two here and there, mainly because of scheduling.
It’s really difficult because you can’t lock an actor in for animation and, you know, control their availability. So you’re kind of at the whim of whatever movie or television show or other thing that they’re doing, and our cast is filled with massively in-demand actors, and so there are going to be times here and there where, you know, they’re just not going to be available.
However, Paul revealed in late 2025 that although he was asked to come back for season 4, he declined the offer due to playing the character being “just way too grueling on [his] psyche.” Adding that, due to his dedicated approach to the character, being Powerplex was a “skin [he] didn’t feel comfortable in.”
Scott Duvall/ Powerplex is captured in Invincible Season 3 Ep 6
Image via Prime Video
Powerplex had one of the show’s most emotionally devastating storylines. Obsessed with revenge against Mark, Powerplex builds a suit capable of absorbing and redirecting massive amounts of electrical energy, hoping to use it against Invincible. However, his vendetta ultimately spirals out of control, accidentally causing the deaths of his own wife and son during the confrontation, bringing his arc to a heartbreaking conclusion.
Since debuting on Prime Video in 2021, Invincible has developed a reputation as one of the most ambitious animated series currently streaming. The show’s brutal action sequences, serialized storytelling, and commitment to adapting the long-running comic storyline have set it apart from many other superhero projects.
Its success has also fueled comparisons to blockbuster franchises from Marvel Studios and DC Studios, with some critics arguing that the series’ character-driven approach allows it to explore themes and long-term arcs that most superhero films often struggle to sustain.
Looking ahead, season 4 will continue to explore Mark Grayson’s complicated role as Earth’s protector while also expanding into the next stages of Mark’s romance with Atom Eve, learning about the threat the Viltrumite Empire poses under Thragg’s leadership, and more. These arcs will push the story beyond the more personal conflicts of earlier seasons, making Invincible season 4 feature some of the most consequential events from the source material.
Although Powerplex’s arc appears largely resolved following the events of season 3, the character could still exist in the background. In the comics, Powerplex occasionally reappears after his initial storyline, though usually in smaller roles rather than as a central antagonist. Meaning that Paul could theoretically return in a future episode if the story calls for it and the actor’s schedule allows.
For now, however, the creative team seems focused on expanding the larger narrative as Invincible continues building toward some of the comic’s biggest storylines in the seasons ahead.
Invincible season 4 premieres March 18 on Prime Video.