J.K. Simmons (Whiplash) is in talks to join Skull Island, according to Deadline. The film is a prequel to King Kong, but rather than being a prequel to Peter Jackson’s 2005 remake, the 1976 remake, or the 1933 original, it will be a prequel to the general story.

This will be Simmons’ biggest movie since he played Daily Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy. Other notable roles for the character actor have included the father in Juno and Brian in the comedy Extract. The actor currently has a lot of awards buzz for his role as Fletcher, the unorthodox music teacher in Whiplash. The attention has clearly paid off as he is also set to have a role in Terminator Genisys as well as the crime thriller The Accountant opposite Ben Affleck and Anna Kendrick.

Simmons is the second actor the join the film. He’ll be teaming up with Tom Hiddleston (Thor) though neither has been officially confirmed. Legendary Pictures, the production company behind 2014’s Godzillla, is also producing Skull Island. This could leave room for a remake of 1962’s Godzilla vs. King Kong. Jordan Vogt-Roberts is directing Skull Island. He hasn’t directed a big-budget adventure before but he is currently working on the video game adaptation, Metal Gear Solid.