Jesse Eisenberg cast as Lex Luthor

[BloatedGuppy]

http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/01/31/jesse-eisenberg-cast-as-lex-luthor-in-batmansuperman-film-breaking/

This film sure does like to provoke outrage with its casting decisions.

Anyway, I think Eisenberg is one of the best/most underrated actors of his generation, so this elevated the film from "I had forgotten that existed" to "Marginally interested" for me. He's certainly not typecast for Luthor, though. Any Superman mythos fans have insight into how he might fit the role?

 

[EeveeElectro]

I've only seen a few of his movies and I don't think he's particularly great but it's good to see he's getting a challenge like this. If he does it well, the amount of respect he'll receive will be through the roof.

I'm actually surprised they didn't choose someone more suited to the role, considering they're going to have to pull a lot out of their arse to make the film enjoyable.
How they're going to make Wonder Woman less camp is probably a bigger challenge.

Well, I don't like making assumptions, I'm sure I can wait until they release a trailer. I suppose he'll have to bulk up and shave his head? That's all I can think of saying at the minute, I'm not hugely into Superman.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.
I like Jeremy Irons as Alfred though. I can totally see that.

 

[shogunblade]

I have this theory, and it might be wrong with it, but if I'm even slightly right, I'm going to be quite happy.

Jesse Eisenberg is brilliant casting to me, and the reason I think that is due in no small part to Terminator 2.
Work with me on this. In The first Terminator, Schwarzenegger was the villain. In the sequel, Robert Patrick is the villain, playing the T-1000, and he's deadly. When you see Arnold, you would probably have something to say about how he could play the part brilliantly, but really, when you cast somebody small, There is the lack of muscle that makes that scarier.

The T-1000 is scary because he assumes the role of a police officer, sure, but he's realistically proportioned. Arnold is of a superhuman build. To cast a villain with a superhuman build feels wrong to me, because there is nothing to the table: Supes V. Luthor, Wham! Bang! Boom! Game over. With Eisenberg playing maybe a smaller, slimier, maybe not as big villain, who makes up with it for smarts and money, he can take on Superman (and perhaps Batman and Wonder Woman) with money. He's smarter and can buy armor to improve his strength, why bulk up?

It makes perfect sense to me, the movie just has to keep up with my theories to work, but we will see Next year. I'm pumped, honestly. Can't wait.

And as for Jeremy Irons... Like I said on another forum, I'm just glad to see he's getting work. He's a great actor, I really need to watch more of him.

 

[Ryotknife]

definitely.....not someone I would choose. Race aside, he is a bit young for the role too. Seems like they are going for the "teenager acting out" route for Lex...

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Huh...that's um...interesting I guess is the right word.

Definitely not someone I would have picked for the role. Maybe they're going for a Luther as a dotcom billionaire type angle in which case it would fit, otherwise the decision seems a little baffling.

I'm gonna be honest, I was kind of with Moviebob in hoping The Rock was going to be Luther, not only would it be hilarious, but it would actually make a lot of sense.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

definitely.....not someone I would choose. Race aside, he is a bit young for the role too. Seems like they are going for the "teenager acting out" route for Lex...

Eisenberg is 30. Same age as the actor playing Superman, whose name is suddenly escaping me. Henry...something?

Anyhoo...aren't Luthor and Supes supposed to be roughly the same age? That stupid Smallville show had them growing up together.

 

[Foolery]

Fuck no. He just looks way too young and I don't think he's well suited to the role at all. I agree with some of the posters from the article, someone like Bryan Cranston would be a far better choice. Plus we already know Mr.Cranston looks intimidating with a bald head.

One of the comments from the article.

"We said "Heisenberg" and they heard EISENberg."

 

[Ryotknife]

definitely.....not someone I would choose. Race aside, he is a bit young for the role too. Seems like they are going for the "teenager acting out" route for Lex...

Eisenberg is 30. Same age as the actor playing Superman, whose name is suddenly escaping me. Henry...something?

Anyhoo...aren't Luthor and Supes supposed to be roughly the same age? That stupid Smallville show had them growing up together.

I know he is 30 (okay, I didn't actually know he was 30 specifically but I knew he was in his late 20's at least), but he looks a lot younger. He looks like a high school student. Considering the roles im used to seeing him in, its hard to see him in a role like Lex and have a believable performance.

How old they are actually is less important than how old they look in a movie.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

I know he is 30 (okay, I didn't actually know he was 30 specifically but I knew he was in his late 20's at least), but he looks a lot younger.

I dunno. I think he looks about 30.

Mind you this is Hollywood, where 30 year olds are routinely cast as high school seniors, so I guess I appreciate the problem.

Anyway I don't really have a great concept of what a Luthor should or shouldn't look like. I just think Eisenberg is a good actor, and good actors tend to have a habit of making hay with roles, even ones that seem like initial mismatches.

 

[Ryotknife]

I know he is 30 (okay, I didn't actually know he was 30 specifically but I knew he was in his late 20's at least), but he looks a lot younger.

I dunno. I think he looks about 30.

Mind you this is Hollywood, where 30 year olds are routinely cast as high school seniors, so I guess I appreciate the problem.

Anyway I don't really have a great concept of what a Luthor should or shouldn't look like. I just think Eisenberg is a good actor, and good actors tend to have a habit of making hay with roles, even ones that seem like initial mismatches.

I grew up with the black Lex Luthor, and I just loved him. Eisenberg is a good actor, no doubt, but sometimes these things are important. At least to some people. It would be like a black Joker (or even worse, a white Shaft). Could it work? absolutely, its possible.....but im not exactly filled with optimism either as it will take an incredible performance to dissipate this disconnect.

 

[FalloutJack]

Jack liked Spacey's performance as Lex. Dunno anything about this guy.

 

[AustinN]

I know he is 30 (okay, I didn't actually know he was 30 specifically but I knew he was in his late 20's at least), but he looks a lot younger.

I dunno. I think he looks about 30.

Mind you this is Hollywood, where 30 year olds are routinely cast as high school seniors, so I guess I appreciate the problem.

Anyway I don't really have a great concept of what a Luthor should or shouldn't look like. I just think Eisenberg is a good actor, and good actors tend to have a habit of making hay with roles, even ones that seem like initial mismatches.

I grew up with the black Lex Luthor, and I just loved him. Eisenberg is a good actor, no doubt, but sometimes these things are important. At least to some people. It would be like a black Joker (or even worse, a white Shaft). Could it work? absolutely, its possible.....but im not exactly filled with optimism either as it will take an incredible performance to dissipate this disconnect.

Do you meant the DCAU? Lex Luthor wasn't black in that, though some people mistake him for it.

 

[Parasondox]

I actually see this working out.

Yes, MovieBob's idea of Lex Luthor being played by Dwayne Johnson, works too because he can play the Lex that was show in a video a few post up. Working out hard for gain the physical strength and ability of human perfection and growing more frustrated and pissed off that a f**king alien is seen as a God of some sorts with unnatural abilities and Lex proving a point that he isn't anything special and develops an obsession with Superman.

However, having Jessie Eisenberg works well into how millionaire and billionaire are like today. Think of Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, Elon Musk and others. They all thrived for power and control and when they got it, they want more from it and no matter how many times they hear people doubt them, they won't stop. Steve Jobs before his passing was deemed as the worlds greatest con-artist because he knows how to gain power and control from his follows. Making everyone believe that his product is the be all and end all for every single person that follows him closely, even though his product aren't. Can Jessie Eisenberg play that role? He has before and this time can excel on it and make it better to fit the Lex Luthor of todays world. Not the ones similar to 60's Mad Men style of rich.

 

[pilouuuu]

Well, obviously it's shocking at first. But as many have said he could play a genious millionaire, as he already did in The Social Network.

I'm glad they didn't go with obvious choices. I could be brilliant as soon as they don't focus this movie on the teenager girl target group like Sony did with The Amazing Spiderman.

 

[Salad Is Murder]

Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.
I like Jeremy Irons as Alfred though. I can totally see that.

I hope they've got a big location budget because that shit's gonna' get CHEWED. UP.

M I RITE!?*

High five!

*I M RITE.

 

[rutger5000]

Lex Luthor has always been one of the most if not the most interesting character in any Superman centered universe I've ever seen. I doubt that you could make a good real live superman movie without a good portrayal of Lex Luthor, and I don't know this actor but I seriously doubt that he could do that. Lex Luthor needs to be completly confident, and fully aware but uncaring about the immorality of his actions. He can't be gleeful about the terror and destruction that he causes, for those aren't his goals. For Luthor terror and destruction are just another means to the goal of self interest, and yes he needs to be very sophisticated.