The list of actors who're supposedly being sought out for villain roles in the Man of Steel sequel, Batman Vs. Superman, is growing. However, Variety now reports that three-time Academy Award-nominated actor Joaquin Phoenix is being eyed for the main villain of the Zack Snyder-directed film. But as the Hollywood source notes, "it’s very early in the process" and very possible that Phoenix, who's lately receiving buzz for his role in Warner Bros. & Spike Jonze's Her film, would decline the studio's offer given he's expressed not being too keen on starring in big-budget movies.
The Gladiator actor reportedly turned down The Joker role in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight which evidently went to the late great Heath Ledger. Phoenix was also supposedly on the shortlist for Bruce Banner/the Hulk in Marvel's The Avengers before Mark Ruffalo replaced Edward Norton.
Should Joaquin Phoenix accept the pending offer, he's likely to portray none other than Lex Luther, who's being considered the main antagonist. Actors Callan Mulvey and Jason Momoa have, too, been eyed for villain roles recently, but "sources are saying that they wouldn’t play the main villain," according to Variety. "Warners has always wanted someone who would be a slam dunk in the role." Anyhow, Joaquin Phoenix, 39, could be joining Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Amy Adams, Diane Lane, and Laurence Fishburne. And Batman Vs. Superman (working title) is directed by Zack Snyder and scheduled to release in theaters on July 17, 2015! What do you think?
