'Justice League' spoilers: J.K. Simmons responds to work-out photos

J.K. Simmons as seen in WhiplashSony Pictures Classics

An Instagram post showcasing actor J.K. Simmons working out at the gym recently went viral and many presumed that the 61-year-old actor was preparing for his role as Commissioner Jim Gordon for "Justice League." Speaking to Business Insider, however, Simmons revealed that this is not the case.

According to Simmons, it was just merely coincidental. The actor explained that after he had gained weight several years back he made a decision to continually stay in shape for the rest of his life. He also points out that the photo is not even recent and was taken at the end of April.

Many assumed that his beard and muscular physique would play into a new look for Jim Gordon in "Justice League" but the actor confirmed that he is going to look more akin to the traditional design for the character. He also confirmed he had already shaved his beard in preparation for his films "I'm Not Here" and "Justice League."

"I'm not going to mess with something that iconic," he explained. "I've gone back and forth with fine-tuning the kind of conditioning I'm doing. Sometimes trying to shed weight and getting leaner and sometimes trying to pack on a little more muscle."

Simmons went on to explain that he began working out as early as the late 2000s when he gained significant weight while playing the character Vern for the HBO series "Oz." Dismayed at how he looked, he began working out and this has become a habit lasting to this day.

As stated in the report, Simmons' new, lean and muscular body can be seen in some of his latest movies such as "Whiplash" and "Terminator Genisys." Even in his earlier years when he was still beginning to work on his physique he was already getting leaner and more muscular, as seen in the original Raimi trilogy of "Spider-Man" films.

"Justice League" opens in theaters on Nov. 17, 2017.