Although no reputable site has yet confirmed the news the current word is that Bryan Cranston has been cast as Lex Luthor, as expected.
Personally, I hope this news is incorrect (but in view of 'Breaking Bad' ending, Cranston's general popularity as an actor and his friendship with Affleck it all sounds very credible). I'm a massive Cranston fan. He's one of my favourite actors and I have no doubt he'd be a blast as Luthor however, I was dearly hoping for a more handsome, dashing, charming businessman Luthor similar to the type played by John Shea in 'Lois & Clark'. Cranston is a very versatile actor but physically and persona-wise he reminds me too much of the doughy, comical, evil but loveable-shyster/genius type versions of the character we already saw portrayed by Gene Hackman and Kevin Spacey over four previous movies. Isn't it time for a new take on the character? One who audiences can really hate.
Plus, apart from anything I think Cranston is at his best playing warm, likeable, patriarchal-type characters which is why I would have loved to have seen him as Commissioner Gordon in a Batman-reboot.
I think it's likely we'll see Affleck's Bruce sharing screentime with Lex in this one.
As for casting, I'd prefer Lex to be a contemporary of Bruce's. Someone around Affleck's age.
I'll also be very disappointed if Lex isn't bald!
I too would prefer Cranston as Gordon
Rumours suggest that Cranston will be confirmed after Breaking Bad ends, and could be given a six-film deal, while Affleck was given a thirteen-film deal.
This other rumour below makes me laugh. ;D
QuoteAlso, the jokes about Matt Damon joining the JLA alongside his childhood buddy turned Batman may prove to be true as the actor is reportedly in consideration for Aquaman or Martian Manhunter.
Source: http://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/bryan-cranston-6-film-deal-lex-luthor-ben-affleck-13-films-batman-vs-superman/ (http://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/bryan-cranston-6-film-deal-lex-luthor-ben-affleck-13-films-batman-vs-superman/)
I'm sure Cranston will be excellent as Lex Luthor. I just would prefer to see him as a more sympathetic character like Commissioner Gordon. Plus, like BatAngelus I'd prefer to see a younger Luthor roughly the same age as Affleck's Bruce (it would make for an interesting dynamic if they were old buddies or rivals from prep school). If Cranston does play Luthor I see him more as the self-made businessman/evil genius.
Wouldn't be disappointed with Cranston as Lex Luthor, but the same goes for Cranston as James Gordon as well.
Only real issue I have with Cranston as Lex would be that his performance would assuredly be compared to that of Walter White from Breaking Bad in so many ways. As that casting would certainly lend itself to comparisons.
I'd much rather have Cranston as Gordon or...Bruce in a Batman Beyond film
Cranston did play a bad guy in a small role in the Lincoln Lawyer. His character in Breaking bad is a bad guy, just happens to be the main character. And we do know he can add humour to a villainous role. He has quite a bit of range hence why I think he'd do better as a villain than a secondary protagonist such as commissioner gordon
Well Cranston didn't do such a job as the villain in the 'Total Recall' remake compared to Ronny Cox in the 1990 original and he barely made an impact in 'The Lincoln Lawyer'. That being said, he's such a superb actor I'm sure he'll do a great job in whatever role he's cast in. Nevertheless, I'd rather see Cranston's innate warmth and likeability be applied to a more suitable role. I don't want to see another loveable, comical, half-hearted Lex Luthor but someone who is genuinely despicable.
I'm hoping for a more ruthless Luthor like the one I know from the Justice League show instead of a fun one a la Gene Hackman .
Quote from: Edd Grayson on Fri, 13 Sep 2013, 12:10
I'm hoping for a more ruthless Luthor like the one I know from the Justice League show instead of a fun one a la Gene Hackman .
Agreed. I love Gene Hackman's performance in the Christopher Reeve 'Superman' films. But nobody could do that type of 'fun' jokester version of Luthor better. Even the brilliant Kevin Spacey fell way short in trying to out-do Hackman on this front. Whoever plays Luthor next needs to be a complete departure from the previous cinematic versions.
We simply need a Lex Luthor that's more representative of the Post-Crisis incarnation, just as MOS brought us a Superman that was much more representative of the Post-Crisis/Byrne era. Hackman's portrayal was comical, and although I will admit a fondness for his performance, having been familiar with it since childhood, and finding Hackman entertaining, it's not a portrayal that would be at all unlike that of what was seen during the 1960's Adam West Batman run with any celeb portraying a villain.
With Spacey, the potential was there, but I found the performance uneven. With the shifting around between in keeping with Hackman's Lex, then making remarks that sounded more like a Post-Crisis Lex Luthor, only to then have scenes that felt like he could have easily been a 1960's Bond villain. And I mean straight out of the 1960's. Outside of John Shea, and Michael Rosenbaum's performances, we haven't really had a truly great and memorable portrayal of Lex up there on the silver screen. It's really about time we got one.
Bryan Cranston just signed on to play Dalton Trumbo in a biopic. Deadline reports that filming is set to beginning early next year, which, I believe, is around when the sequel is filming, so it seems likely that Cranston may be too tied up with this movie to play Lex Luthor.
http://www.deadline.com/2013/09/breaking-bads-bryan-cranston-will-next-play-blacklisted-scribe-dalton-trumbo-in-jay-roach-helmed-feature/
Not to mention that he'd probably prefer to tackle a leading role and flexing his range by playing a very different character from the bald, scientifically brilliant, and immoral Walter White.
As opposed to signing on to play a supporting role...as a bald, scientifically brilliant, and immoral character (assuming that Snyder and Goyer's take is closer to Post-Crisis Lex and other recent comic incarnationas).
Since Snyder confirmed that Luthor is in the movie, I found this quote by him in this article reporting that Terry O'Quinn from Lost is a rumoured possible casting:
Quote"I don't know, I think you'd just have to imagine like a combination of, you know, Richard Branson and Brad Pitt I guess," Snyder told Yahoo! Movies UK. "Mixed together!" It is not clear if he was referring to what a modern Lex Luthor would look like in modern-day real life or if that is how he envisions the character.
Source: http://www.enstarz.com/articles/28931/20131113/man-of-steel-2-cast-rumors-terry-oquinn-to-play-lex-luthor-in-batman-vs-superman.htm
Quote from: The Laughing Fish on Thu, 14 Nov 2013, 03:05
Since Snyder confirmed that Luthor is in the movie, I found this quote by him in this article reporting that Terry O'Quinn from Lost is a rumoured possible casting:
Quote"I don't know, I think you'd just have to imagine like a combination of, you know, Richard Branson and Brad Pitt I guess," Snyder told Yahoo! Movies UK. "Mixed together!" It is not clear if he was referring to what a modern Lex Luthor would look like in modern-day real life or if that is how he envisions the character.
Source: http://www.enstarz.com/articles/28931/20131113/man-of-steel-2-cast-rumors-terry-oquinn-to-play-lex-luthor-in-batman-vs-superman.htm
Hey, if Snyder wants a 'Brad Pitt' type why doesn't he cast a shaved-head Brad Pitt? Now, that would be interesting out-of-the-standard-box casting and a radical departure from all the goofy, likeable shyster Lex Luthors we've had on the big-screen before. Instead get an edgy, charismatic pretty-boy to play one of the world's most deadly and powerful, yet charming (which makes him even more deadly and powerful), men.
I like Terry O'Quinn a lot, but like Cranston he gives off too much of the loveable uncle vibe. Yes, I know these are both brilliant, versatile actors who can play a range of parts but as brilliant as they are I fear that casting a late-middle-aged naturally badly like O'Quinn and Cranston risks Luthor being portrayed too similarly in the Hackman/Spacey vein, whereas Pitt or someone like Pitt would be a real change. I'd much prefer to see O'Quinn or Cranston play a character like Commissioner Gordon, which would play to the integrity and gritty strength they project so well.
Jesse Eisenberg is Lex Luthor.
QuoteSnyder stated, "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. Having Jesse in the role allows us to explore that interesting dynamic, and also take the character in some new and unexpected directions."
http://www.deadline.com/2014/01/jesse-eisenberg-jeremy-irons-superman-batman-movie-warner-bros/#more-674746