Lex Luthor

[johnnygobbs]

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.

[The Joker]

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. 

[BatmAngelus]

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).

[The Laughing Fish]

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:

"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

[johnnygobbs]

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:

"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.

[BatmAngelus]

Jesse Eisenberg is Lex Luthor.

Snyder 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