After the multiversal mayhem of the Invincible War, a brutal battle with Conquest that literally and figuratively killed our heroes, and Chekov’s Mustache looming large over the story, Invincible season four is finally going to give Mark Grayson and Atom Eve a break, right? Wrong! You have never been more wrong. And you’ll find out how intense things get when Invincible season four comes to Prime Video on March 18.
In celebration of Invincible season four, we talked to stars Steven Yeun (Mark Grayson) and Gillian Jacobs (Atom Eve), who play Mark Grayson and Atom Eve, about the past and future of the series, including the pair’s trauma bond, the incredible music of Invincible, and their own nerdy passions.
Nerdist: I want to start things off with a question I think is looming large as we head into Invincible season four. Who’s done more lasting psychological damage over the course of the series, Mark’s dad or Eve’s dad?
Gillian Jacobs: This is a really good question.
Steven Yeun: That’s a great question.
Gillian Jacobs: This is why they work as a couple, because they understand this about each other. This is their coffee talk of dad stuff.
Steven Yeun: I don’t think it’s comparable. I think if anything, it brings them together. Thank God, like you said.
Nerdist: These characters have been through the meat grinder repeatedly. What was the vibe like way back when you stepped into the booth the first day in season one, compared to your first day on Invincible season four?
Steven Yeun: You just feel a little bit more lived in. I think you’re trying to find the character in the first season, and you’re trying to create a map. I remember knowing that he was in high school, and then knowing that we were going to go all the way there; he couldn’t have the same voice. And so playing him a little bit more youthful, naive, a little bit more performative in that way. And then to come to Invincible season four and five, just to drop it in that way, it’s been really fun.
Gillian Jacobs: Yeah. I feel like we were in a teen high school show when this began, and I had the nerves and excitement of a new job, a new character, wanting to get it right. Also, I don’t know that I’d ever been a part of something that had this level of love for it going in. And so I think I was a little bit nervous and hopeful that people were going to like the show. But it’s been just such an amazing ride thus far. I hope it goes on forever. I love doing this show so much.
Nerdist: One thing I love about this show, in particular, is how it uses music to really enhance our understanding of the characters. There are so many amazing needle drops like the Chemical Brothers, Radiohead, you name it. Is music something you use as performers as a way to access these characters?
Steven Yeun: I don’t know if I’ve actually had to do that. I wish I could offer you a really good. I like the question. I like the second half of this question because I want to give you a really good song for Mark, but I don’t have one. Yeah, I don’t usually use music for this particular character, but I really do like what they’re playing with. It’s really fun.
Gillian Jacobs: I know almost nothing about music. I feel like I always am forever behind. I’m forever in elementary school where people are talking about the band or the singer, and I don’t know what they’re talking about because my mom would just listen to classical music, and I’m like, yeah, I totally … Yeah. So I’ve never been the actor who made a playlist for a character, but I love that about this show, too. I am always surprised by it. I like the length at which the cues go on, too. I’m impressed by that. It’s not a 10-second clip. It’ll be full thing. I’m like, whoa. Yeah,
I’m impressed. But maybe you can make a playlist for us. So we’ll talk to you next time.
Nerdist: All right. I’ll try my level best.
Gillian Jacobs: Okay. Do you do that as a writer? Do you have your working playlist?
Nerdist: Oh, for sure. Usually, stuff that’s more orchestral or without words, so I don’t get distracted and just start typing the lyrics, but that’s just my own brain. Since we are Nerdist, we always like to ask: what do you nerd out about in your own life? Is there something that you’re particularly passionate about?
Steven Yeun: Fishing.
Gillian Jacobs: Oh, cool. What type of fishing?
Steven Yeun: I like fly fishing, but I also just like general fishing.
Gillian Jacobs: I am really into California native plants. I’ve been volunteering at various native plant habitat restorations around the county, at state parks, or different places. So I’ve been learning a lot. Theodore Payne. Do you guys go there? No. The native plant nursery? Oh, see, we’ve uncorked it. This is my new deep dive.
Invincible season four will bring us the long-awaited Viltrumite War storyline. According to the official synopsis: “While the world recovers from the global catastrophe of last season, a changed Mark struggles with guilt as he fights to protect his home and the people he loves, setting him on a collision course with a powerful new threat that could alter the fate of humanity forever.“