[Shaun]

I could see that working.

[Joelle.]

Jesse Eisenberg cast as Lex Luthor in Batman v Superman movie

The Social Network star is to play the lead villain in Man of Steel 2, while Jeremy Irons steps into Michael Caine's shoes as Alfred



Jesse Eisenberg has been cast as brainbox baddie Lex Luthor, with Jeremy Irons as Alfred the trusty butler, in the upcoming Superman v Batman film. Eisenberg is a new name in the race, with actors such as Joaquin Phoenix and Bryan Cranston previously tipped as frontrunners.

Eisenberg won a best actor Oscar nomination for his work in The Social Network, and assumes the role from the likes of Gene Hackman, who played the tech-savvy megalomaniac in the original Superman films, while Kevin Spacey took the role in Superman Returns.

At 30, Eisenberg, shortly to be seen in Richard Ayoade's Dostoyevsky adaptation The Double, is the youngest actor to play the part, and it is not yet known whether he will do so bald. Luthor's first comic book appearances were in fact ginger and tufty, but a production error resulted in his losing his hair entirely less than a year later. Nonetheless, Luthor has long been perceived as being middle-aged.

Explaining his decision, director Zack Snyder said:

"Lex Luthor is often considered the most notorious of Superman's rivals, his unsavoury 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. Having Jesse in the role allows us to explore that interesting dynamic, and also take the character in some new and unexpected directions."

The director also explained the thinking behind the casting of Jeremy Irons as Alfred, trusty butler to Bruce Wayne, who will played in the upcoming blockbuster by Ben Affleck. Synder called Alfred - played by Michael Caine opposite Christian Bale in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy - "an absolutely critical element in the intricate infrastructure that allows Bruce Wayne to transform himself into Batman."

He continued: "It is an honour 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."

Snyder's casting decisions for this followup to the enormously-successful Man of Steel have not always met with a warm reception from fans. Petitions were launched to try and reverse the decision that Affleck would inherit Bale's cape, while the announcement that Wonder Woman would be played by newcomer Gal Gadot provoked some bafflement.

Man of Steel 2 had been scheduled for a 2015 release but was put back by Warner Bros to May 2016. Henry Cavill will reprise his role as Superman/Clark Kent, likewise Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane also return.

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014...uperman-batman

Anyone other than Cranston was going to be a disappointment lets be honest

[Tom4784]

Strange casting, it could work but it's going to be a challenge I think.

[Shaun]

oh god if he plays Mark Zuckerberg again I'm so done, it's all he seems to do lately (Now You See Me)

hated the first movie.

[King Gizzard]

i can't imagine him bald

[King Gizzard]

or being a proper villain without it being really cringey and comedic.

[BBfanUSA]

I think he might be able to pull it off, power hungry rich guy could work for him, just as long as you don't make him shave his hair.

Jeremy Irons has been tapped as Alfred as well I see, will be rough to see someone not named Micheal Payne play him for me. He played an excellent Alfred.

[Tom4784]

Jeremy Irons as Alfred though <3

[Slevin]

every time there is casting announcements for such movies there is an uproar of people saying this is not good. its gonna suck. very few are optimistic or even think it could work. its quite funny at times. look at the rage when Ledger was announced as the Joker. he killed it and put Nicholson to shame. thought i get they were played somewhat differently. still made Jack look like a pansy.

i wasnt ever a fan really of the Batman movies but i really liked the last two that were out. im not one of the comic book readers and it kinda makes me glad when reading comments on places like IMDB when it comes to these movies. i at least know some of the basic stuff of the more notable characters. i did at least watch enough comic toons when i was a kid though.

[smeagol]

i predict this will be a massive flop. first of a stupid idea batman and superman i mean really. wtf.
and the casting is shocking. ben afleck should run while he can. i like him and he is mad doing that film.
its been pushed back enough thats never a good sign

who cast that fool at lex are they on crack lol

[Scarlett.]

I still think of George Clooney as the worst choice for Batman, then I remember Ben Affleck is the current one, lol.

[lostalex]

who give a f//k about this DC nonsense, X-men: Days of Future Past is coming out soon and it's gonna be amazing.

Marvel is DESTYROYING DC in every single way. and if it wasn't for Heath Ledger dying, no one would really give a f//k about any of the DC movies.

Batman vs. Superman, who cares?

Green Lantern sucked ass, the last two Supermans sucked ass, DC sucks ass right now, and they only have hype, no actual results at the box office.

X-Men, Spiderman, Capt. America, Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy.

Make mine Marvel.

[BBfanUSA]

Ugh, look at all the rage over this...

two words, Heath Ledger

He got the same treatment when he was casted as The Joker and then we saw him in Dark Knight and said holy moly he's brilliant.

The fact that they done all of these interesting choices actually makes me want to watch this.

[lostalex]

interesting choices, like the "interesting choice" of anne hathaway as catwoman? and yet she was a flop in DKR.

The only way i will care about batman vs. superman is if they bring back Michelle Pheifer as Catwoman, Danny Devito as Penguin, and JACK as Joker. and Tim Burton is directing it.

Tell me that wouldn't be legendary if they bring back Jack Nicholson as the Joker and Tim Burton directing.

That's the only way they'll get me back.

But anyway, it's all about hype.

The Marvel movies are so much better. DC is just trying to ride the Marvel wave.

[Josy]

Michelle Pheifer as Catwoman, Danny Devito as Penguin, and JACK as Joker.

All amazing castings

I watched DKR the other night actually and still don't like Anne Hathaway as catwoman also probably get shot down for this but I still think Heath was wayyy over rated as the joker.

Jack>>>>>>>>


But yeah Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor may surprise us all.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by lostalex

who give a f//k about this DC nonsense, X-men: Days of Future Past is coming out soon and it's gonna be amazing.

Marvel is DESTYROYING DC in every single way. and if it wasn't for Heath Ledger dying, no one would really give a f//k about any of the DC movies.

Batman vs. Superman, who cares?

Green Lantern sucked ass, the last two Supermans sucked ass, DC sucks ass right now, and they only have hype, no actual results at the box office.

X-Men, Spiderman, Capt. America, Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy.

Make mine Marvel.

I've got a horrible feeling that Days of Future Past is going to be terrible, I hope it isn't but it's starting to remind me of X3 in that they stuck too many characters and stories into it and did justice to none of them.

Plus Quicksilver looks like a space hooker.