Jesse Eisenberg Discusses Trying To Humanize 'Lex Luthor' In BATMAN V SUPERMAN

Jesse Eisenberg Discusses Trying To Humanize 'Lex Luthor' In BATMAN V SUPERMAN

While talking at MCM Comic Con, actor Jesse Eisenberg discussed his reimagining of Lex Luthor in Batman V Superman and how he approached the iconic role from an actor's perspective...

By MattBellissimo - May 30, 2016 05:05 AM EST
Filed Under: Batman vs. Superman
Source: Screen Rant
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!
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SuperCat
SuperCat - 5/30/2016, 6:09 AM
Sorry, Jesse. There was nothing relatable about your portrayal as Lex. Terrible acting.
LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 5/30/2016, 6:13 AM
I've come to the conclusion that when you think about it, Batman v Superman is the comic book equivalent to The Phantom Menace.

We have boring, relatable, shitty characters (in the film not comics of course) in Quin Gon Jinn, Padme, Obi Wan, Anakin = Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, & Lois Lane.

We have that one [foo foo] in the film which every single time you see him on screen, you rather get punched in the dick than see his ass Jar Jar = Lex

You have a shitty villain that people love the fight scenes for Maul = Doomsday (Maul didn't become great until Clone Wars when he was given actually depth & may be the best Star Wars villain ever.

You have senate hearings in both films.

We have no main character in either film (is Batman the main character of BvS? He has the most lines & screens but he's the relatable character we follow? We are suppose to agree with him that Superman is bad? Makes no sense to make a Superman hating character the main character of the film after making a Superman film instead of having Superman be the main character.)

We even have Jar Jar step in the poopy in TPM & Lex gives someone a jar of piss.
BawbScharf
BawbScharf - 5/30/2016, 6:41 AM
@LEVITIKUZ - ...Yeah, that way more spot on than most would like to admit. Another one: while Jar Jar is a racial stereotype of how old media would portray a black person, Eisenberg is an overexaggerated version of what many think people on the Autism spectrum are. This is why he has the annoying ticks and problems public speaking at the library function.
LehnsienSlump
LehnsienSlump - 5/30/2016, 7:13 AM
@LEVITIKUZ - I've come to the conclusion that you throat cucumbers
BloodyBed
BloodyBed - 5/30/2016, 6:19 AM
i didn't see bad acting, i saw bad direction, he played what he was told to play...... [frick] [frick] this movie whyyyyy whyyy rape lex luthor whyyy snyderrrrrr
SuperCat
SuperCat - 5/30/2016, 6:35 AM
MattBellissimo
MattBellissimo - 5/30/2016, 6:36 AM
@SuperCat - Loved the rooftop scene, but this was all kinds of awful.
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