Along with all the chatter over the heroes of Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice, there's been just as much about its villain. Jesse Eisenberg's portrayal of iconic Superman bad guy, Lex Luthor, was met with almost as much divide as the film itself. Eisenberg has been rather quiet in the months following the film's release, but had a few things to say about his performance during the MCM Comic Con in London. “What I wanted to do with the character is kind of what I want to do in this play, which is I want to humanise these people that you have seen … dehumanized. I wanted to make these people real and relatable and interesting and engaging, not just, you know, a surface bad person. To me, the most interesting acting is when actors can bring you into that other side of the person. When you feel like you are not just seeing the kind of purpose of them for plot. That they are not just delivering a message. They’re actually showing you humanity. And that’s what I tried to do with that character. Whether or not I succeeded or failed depends on your subjective opinion on what you think of people like that. That’s my goal as an actor.”
Upon the film's release, some fans enjoyed the re-interpretation of Superman's nemesis, while others felt it was a little too kooky compared to the much more stoic Lex presented in many comic books. It is important to remember that Luthor's original comic book appearances cast him as more of a "mad genius" before reinterpreting him as an intellectual schemer in the 1980's, though many fans are more familiar with the latter iteration. It remains to be seen what will happen to Eisenberg's Luthor in the DCEU, though recent rumours have suggested an appearance in Suicide Squad, and the actor himself has suggested he will also reprise the role in Justice League. Do you want to see more of Eisenberg in the role? Sound off below!
About The Author:
Matt is a graduate of the Ryerson University School of Journalism, and has been a fan of superheroes since he picked up his first comic book issue as a child. While he works as a professional musician, Matt has a massive passion for comic books, films and heroes, along with participating in discussion and debate with the CBM community.