Warner Bros. has made two major casting announcements concerning their upcoming Man of Steel sequel pitting Batman against Superman.
Jesse Eisenberg – best known for his role as Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network – has been cast as Superman villain Lex Luthor, while Jeremy Irons will play Batman’s butler Alfred.
Said director Zack Snyder in a press release, “Lex Luthor is often considered the most notorious of Superman’s rivals, his unsavory reputation preceding him since 1940. What’s great about Lex is that he exists beyond the confines of the stereotypical nefarious villain. He’s a complicated and sophisticated character whose intellect, wealth and prominence position him as one of the few mortals able to challenge the incredible might of Superman.”
Eisenberg has the sophistication to play Luthor, but will he be imposing enough to give the character a presence with Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill on screen?
Snyder thinks so, saying, “Having Jesse in the role allows us to explore that interesting dynamic, and also take the character in some new and unexpected directions.”
The big question Lex Luthor fans may be asking is: Will Jesse go bald for the role of Lex Luthor? Breaking Bad actor Bryan Cranston had been rumored to play the role, mostly due to his incredible performance on his hit TV show as a bald chemist. It seemed almost too good to be true, so we’ll just have to see what Eisenberg will do with the role.
The director says that Jeremy Irons is the perfect actor to play a mentor to Batman, saying” “As everyone knows, Alfred is Bruce Wayne’s most trusted friend, ally and mentor, a noble guardian and father figure. He is an absolutely critical element in the intricate infrastructure that allows Bruce Wayne to transform himself into Batman.”
He goes on to say that “It is an honor to have such an amazingly seasoned and gifted actor as Jeremy taking on the important role of the man who mentors and guides the guarded and nearly impervious façade that encapsulates Bruce Wayne.”
Lex Luthor has previously been portrayed by Gene Hackman and Kevin Spacey in the most recent film adaptation of the character. We’re excited to hear what Jesse Eisenberg has to say about landing the role of Lex Luthor, he must have seen something about the character that he wanted to portray.
The still-untitled Batman Vs Superman movie’s release date was recently pushed back to May 6, 2016.
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