Jesse Eisenberg Says 'Lex Luthor' Is 'Complicated And Challenging' In BATMAN V SUPERMAN

Jesse Eisenberg Says 'Lex Luthor' Is 'Complicated And Challenging' In BATMAN V SUPERMAN

Implying that he hasn't seen any comic book movies, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice's Lex Luthor, actor Jesse Eisenberg, talks cautiously about the role while also praising the script and more!

By DCMarvelFreshman - Aug 29, 2014 05:08 AM EST
Filed Under: Batman vs. Superman
Source: Total Film
When Total Film caught up with Jesse Eisenberg to discuss his new drama Night Moves and, more importantly, his role as Lex Luthor in the highly-anticipated Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the 30-year-old actor revealed he does not read comics nor has he seen any comic book movies. In fact, when TF mentioned how Heath Ledger reinvented the Joker and tapped into modern-day fears of terrorism in The Dark Knight, Eisenberg could only reply, "Oh, that's interesting, really interesting." However, after he had landed the villain role in Zack Snyder's Man of Steel follow-up, the actor did look through stacks of comics and he also watched "that movie with Gene Hackman," referring to one of Christopher Reeve's early Superman movies. "My father always cautions me against thinking of something as a means to some other end, because then its irresponsible to the 'means' thing," explained Jesse Eisenberg, reassuring that he did not take the high-profile role in Dawn of Justice simply for the cash or any other overarching career opportunities. "They asked me if I wanted to play the part before they sent me the script. I'm not sure how it worked, but it's something I read with the understanding that I could do the role, If I..." he stopped. "You know, they don't just hand the scripts out. But I really liked it on its own terms. I would do it if it was for free and it was tiny."
 
The TF interviewer then implied that once Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice opens in theaters, Eisenberg won't be able to casually stand in the street without being noticed. "I've been in things that have been popular before," asserted the actor. "To say, I can't do that which will appear in thousands of theaters on opening day, but I can do this which will appear in this amount of theaters... It's arbitrary. I realise how popular comic-book movies are, and now, working on one, I realise why they're popular - the story is really good, the dialogue is really good, the artistry behind every department is high, the acting is really good. So if they're all put together with that level of quality..." For obvious reasons, Eisenberg couldn't share any specifics about Lex Luthor or Dawn of Justice, but he did offer some intriguing hints. "There are some indications of how the character should behave based on the script, and then as actor makes it his or her own," he says. "I got to know one of the writers really well, Chris Terrio, and we were able to discuss things at length and figure out who this person is to create a real psychology behind what is, perhaps, in a comic book, a less than totally modern psychology. I can only say I've been asked to play an interesting role: a complicated, challenging person." 

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice stars Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, with Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne, Diane Lane, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeremy Irons, and Holly Hunter. The film, written by Chris Terrio from David S. Goyer's screenplay, and directed by Zack Snyder, hits March 25, 2016!
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MightyZeus
MightyZeus - 8/29/2014, 5:38 AM
Really unsure how Eisenberg will turn out in the role of Lex Luthor but hopefully his performance will blow us away.
pintoman
pintoman - 8/29/2014, 5:43 AM
whatever...god I hate looking at this actor.
Maven
Maven - 8/29/2014, 5:43 AM
This is the only major casting I've never been keen on but yeah, hope it turns out well.
Maven
Maven - 8/29/2014, 5:44 AM
*In this film*
SuperCat
SuperCat - 8/29/2014, 5:45 AM
"...reassuring that he did not take the high-profile role in Dawn of Justice simply for the cash or any other overarching career opportunities."

Pasto
Pasto - 8/29/2014, 5:46 AM
Douche-chill.
Peel
Peel - 8/29/2014, 5:48 AM
'the 30-year-old actor revealed he does not read comics nor has he seen any comic book movies'

You dumb stupid [frick]. With actors like Ledger and Hiddleston, at least they researched their roles, read a lot of graphic novels, properly tried to get into the psychologies of their characters and truly put a lot of thought and passion into it. Eisenberg's just all 'Oh I read the script, it was pretty interesting, Chris Terrio helped me understand Luthor, I think I'm golden lol'. Stupid little shit.
Highflyer
Highflyer - 8/29/2014, 5:49 AM
The wait for this movie is killing me. I'm begging for a trailer.
Joementum
Joementum - 8/29/2014, 5:49 AM
Of the few roles I've seen him play, he acts virtually the same each time.

Gonna be hard not to think "Lex Zuckerberg" ???
CherryBomb
CherryBomb - 8/29/2014, 5:50 AM
Really love his comments.
It's great that he's actually spoken a lot with the writer. Reading comics, yeah, I could give him a pat on the back but if it's not what's presented in the script then it's useless. So I'm very happy he's taken the time to actually get to know the script and character from the writer.

I'm nervous and excited to see him in this role.
Pasto
Pasto - 8/29/2014, 5:50 AM
@TheGoddamnPeel
"However, after he had landed the villain role in Zack Snyder's Man of Steel follow-up, the actor did look through stacks of comics and he also watched "that movie with Gene Hackman," referring to one of Christopher Reeve's early Superman movies."
sameoldthing
sameoldthing - 8/29/2014, 5:50 AM
I can buy into him portraying a devious intellect.
But Lex also is charming & intimidating..can't see him pulling that off.

Need to wait & see performance..that said,no bald head..he's NOT Luthor!
MrBlackJack
MrBlackJack - 8/29/2014, 5:50 AM
Love this casting, but this tells me nothing besides Eisenberg takes forever to spit out simple "Sorry, can't talk about it" answers.
Highflyer
Highflyer - 8/29/2014, 5:51 AM
I think WB have threatened to ruin his life if he reveals too much :p
PeterParker1991
PeterParker1991 - 8/29/2014, 5:52 AM
He's gonna suck. 'Nuff said
batz11
batz11 - 8/29/2014, 5:52 AM
What? He never read a comic or watched a cbm, he can't possibly pull this off...
CherryBomb
CherryBomb - 8/29/2014, 5:52 AM
@TheGoddamnPeel

Haha! I hope you're joking? The article clearly said he looked at the comics.
batz11
batz11 - 8/29/2014, 5:53 AM
Meant initially ;)
JGouveia
JGouveia - 8/29/2014, 5:55 AM
Interesting that he mentions only Terrio.
SuperCat
SuperCat - 8/29/2014, 5:57 AM
DEFA
DEFA - 8/29/2014, 5:58 AM
In Sack we trust... that picture of Aquaman is awesome !!
Peel
Peel - 8/29/2014, 5:58 AM
Well...I suppose I'll give him the benefit of doubt when it comes to research. But I still don't trust the little Zuckerberg douche.
mbembet
mbembet - 8/29/2014, 5:59 AM
"the story is really good, the dialogue is really good" i'm 100% sure he wasn't talking about man of shit
Fanmar16
Fanmar16 - 8/29/2014, 6:00 AM
CamtonoOfBeskar
CamtonoOfBeskar - 8/29/2014, 6:06 AM
Good actor.

If you think away the hair you can kinda see a Smallville type Lex going on IMO. He's gonna kill it.
Grodd87
Grodd87 - 8/29/2014, 6:07 AM
He is a good actor not my first choice but hope he does well. I don't care if anyone playing a comicbook role not reading the comics I would like them to but I think it just makes fan boys happy that they read the comics.
Peel
Peel - 8/29/2014, 6:10 AM
@Andree24,

Prove it.
EhMaybeSays
EhMaybeSays - 8/29/2014, 6:11 AM
Love this casting.
DrKinsolving
DrKinsolving - 8/29/2014, 6:19 AM
I'm actually really looking forward to see him take on Lex, it will obviously be a different interpretation from The Comics but hopefully it still keeps the essence of the character, which can definitely be done.... Can't wait
Bekss
Bekss - 8/29/2014, 6:24 AM
What did he say? I just can't read the article without thinking in his annoying voice.
I hate him in everything except Zombieland.

Let's hope he can act like Luthor should act
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