Aaron Paul Confirms Exit from Invincible Role: ‘Way Too Gruelling on My Psyche’

In a surprising announcement, Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul has revealed he will not be returning to voice the character Powerplex in the highly-anticipated fourth season of Prime Video’s adult-animated series, Invincible.

Speaking on the Kinda Funny Games podcast, Paul, who debuted as the emotionally unstable scientist in Season 3, expressed his deep admiration for the show but admitted the role took a heavy emotional toll.

“I did a couple of episodes, and they asked me to come back for next season, but I’ve got to tell you…that show, I’m such a fan of. I watch every episode. I love. It was just way too gruelling on my psyche,” Paul explained. “It was such an emotional…I have such respect for what they’re doing.”

Paul emphasized the depth of his character’s turmoil, stating he immersed himself fully in the role. “Powerplex is not just messing around. He’s going through things. Turmoil. I put myself in that skin, and it was a skin I didn’t feel comfortable in, to be honest. I didn’t want to do it anymore…the thing is, everyone involved in that is amazing. What it did to me, I didn’t like. I couldn’t continue.”

Powerplex was introduced as a villain seeking revenge on the protagonist, Invincible (voiced by Steven Yeun), for his perceived role in the deaths of Powerplex’s niece and sister. In a tragic turn, Powerplex’s actions ultimately led to the accidental deaths of his own wife and son, adding profound trauma and instability to the character.

What This Means for Season 4

With Paul stepping away, it remains unclear whether the role of Powerplex will be recast for a potential return or if the character’s storyline will be retired.

Meanwhile, the voice cast for the smash-hit series—which boasts a 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes—continues to expand. Season 4, which is expected to premiere in March 2026, has already added notable talent, including Matthew Rhys (The Beast in Me), though his role has not yet been announced.

Furthermore, it has been confirmed that Lee Pace (Foundation) will be joining the cast as Thragg, one of the primary and most powerful antagonists from the original Invincible comic book. Thragg is described as a character who “rules his people through strength, cruelty, and will – determined to restore Viltrum to its previous glory at any cost.”

Invincible, created by Robert Kirkman, has been renewed for a fifth season and is currently one of Prime Video’s best-reviewed and most successful original shows. All three existing seasons are available to stream on the platform.