Who should play Lex Luthor

Who should play Lex Luthor

With the Man of Steel teaser premiering at Comic-Con, I thought Id have a look at who Id like to see play Superman's nemesis in the new franchise.

Fan Fic
By HermitBadger - Jul 19, 2012 12:07 AM EST
Filed Under: Fan Fic



Now that we've gotten our first look at the Man of Steel I cant help but wonder how Superman's arch Nemesis will fit into this new franchise. Lex Luthor is without a doubt, one of the most well known and most recognizable enemies of any superhero and his many battles with the man in tights mean he deserves to be done justice when brought to the big screen.

So here are my Top 5 casting choices for who I think could do justice to the role:


5: Stanley Tucci


A hugely underrated actor in my opinion, (as shown in his recent performance In Captain America) Tucci has been fantastic in every role he's been cast In. I believe he could Portray the perfect mix of Intelligence and condescension needed to bring the role of Lex Luthor to life.

4: Jason Issacs


We have an English Superman why not have another for Luthor. Jason Issac's Is one of the best in the business at playing a bad guy (eg.The Patriot) he radiates intelligence and a dark charisma that would be perfect for Superman's greatest enemy.

3: Ralph Fiennes


Feinnes Is another great choice in my opinion (and another Brit) with great performances In 'In Bruge' and 'Schindlers List' he has a great talent for playing villainous characters and would give great depth to the role.

2: Mark Strong


Yet another Englishman for the role, Strong not only has the keen intelligence but also a physicality we've yet to see brought to the role of Luthor.

1: Billy Zane


Need I say more?
Without a doubt, my out and out favorite for the role of Superman's greatest enemy. Zane has the look, the condescending air and physical presence to make Lex Luthor his own. (I think the picture even says It all)


Conclussion:



The character of Lex Luthor is one of many aspects and as such any of these actors could play the role brilliantly. Though there are many other choices for the part out there, such as Smallville's Michael Rosenbaum who no doubt many would love to see reprise the role in Snyder's new Superman Franchise, these are simply the ones I believe could really capture audiences In this new take on the man in tights.

If I have left out anyone you believe is better suited or simply just made terrible errors In judgment in my selection I hope you'll forgive me. Regardless I hope you have enjoyed this article and no matter who eventually dons the hairless crown of Lex Luthor I know it will be done well.
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TheNameIsBetty
TheNameIsBetty - 7/20/2012, 8:30 AM
Voldemort for the win
RunDTC
RunDTC - 7/20/2012, 9:04 AM
Billy Zane is an awful choice for Luthor. you failed to mention in your description of him that he has no acting talent.
MrCameron
MrCameron - 7/20/2012, 11:24 AM
Billy Zane? Dude, stop living in 1997.

I wouldn't mind any of the other choices, but I'd perfer someone closer to Cavill's age, like Michael Fassbender or Jonathan Rhys-Meyers.
MrBlueSky
MrBlueSky - 7/20/2012, 1:10 PM
@Furrerminator Jonathan Rhys Meyers would make a brilliant Luthor.

Anyway, no to Billy Zane. Just because he's bald and has an upper class accent doesn't mean he should play Lex. I prefer Jon Hamm for Lex:
SpanX13
SpanX13 - 7/20/2012, 5:13 PM
Interesting choices but nothing new in regards to originality...but that's not to say none of 'em wouldn't do the role justice (Billy Zane questionable).

My choice however would be Ryan Gosling a more modern take. If we follow some of the concepts in comics,his almost the opposite of a Bruce Wayne,but I'd choose the analytical,cerebral Luthor. Make him the smartest man in the world,so intelligent that the idea of a powerful alien scares him. In his mind,no one that powerful would resist taking over the world. Add arrogance, capitalism & jealousy...you'll have a villain more grounded & human in many aspects. Gosling can do those things,where you can understand his motives but not excuse his actions.

At the end of the movie you can have him totally declare his hatred for supes...his goal to prove to the world how wrong they are to trust him,no matter what it takes...leading to creation of some of his foe's (Metallo,Bizarro,Superboy...etc).

But that's how I'd do it...two attractive men,representing power,corruption,fear,inadequacy,hate...human & grounded.

Also,I'd show that supes holds back in many ways as he either fears his full abilities or a mental block. The genius that is Luthor( in JL movie or Most wanted Batman too) can deduce this,specially if his abilities are shown to increase during a space of time.

That's my rambling,that's what I'd hope to see & who I would choose.
HermitBadger
HermitBadger - 7/20/2012, 5:36 PM
@SpanX13

great concept for Luthor, he see's everyone as the same as himself and cant conprehend that with the powers superman has he wouldnt use them to rule the world.
I also like the casting of Gosling i think he would give an interesting interpretation though i wonder if he would be believable as the most intelligent man in the world.

i never considered the idea of Superman refraining from his full god like potential out of fear but it would make for a great film/films and as you say really ground superman into an almost relatable character.

Great Rambling!
JayJayCAW
JayJayCAW - 7/20/2012, 6:53 PM
interesting list, Zane seems to be on everyone list at some point lol

I would have added John Hamm & Guy Pearce myself but still cool list :D
schneider625
schneider625 - 7/20/2012, 8:26 PM
Guy Pearce!!!! !!
Jolt17
Jolt17 - 7/20/2012, 8:29 PM
SuperDude001: Original pick, dude, and he looks good! Nice.

I honestly have started to get tired of the common Lex picks today, though...what I am expecting is for Warner Bros. to pick someone fresh; a generally "unknown" face that has the real talent. I think that's how the casting of CBM's should be done as for today, because it has proven to be pretty damn effective. (Hemsworth, Hiddleston, and fairly, Cavill, et cetera.) Don't get me wrong, those names above surely are great actors, but I'd take an unfamiliar talent above any of them.

But, anyway. Fassbender is enough Magneto, and Strong is enough Sinestro. (We deserve to see more of him in the role.) Tucci was already Dr. Erskine in Captain America: The First Avenger, but that's not the thing - I do think that he's a great actor, but he's not Lex, IMO.
Jolt17
Jolt17 - 7/20/2012, 8:31 PM
I think I've recently found a name that I think would suit Lex perfectly...but I can't seem to remember him, now! Well, Zane used to be my top pick a few months/years ago, though; but seeing people's resentment toward him, I've changed my mind about it.
Jolt17
Jolt17 - 7/20/2012, 8:33 PM
Alright. Whilst common, I think Jason Isaacs is the one I'd love to see as Lex the most.
113
113 - 7/20/2012, 9:06 PM
Since Joseph Gordon Levitt is one of Nolan's go-to guys now and he is a great actor maybe we can get a wholly new approach to Lex, maybe make him younger than Supes (not significantly but just a bit).

A Lex that is scrawny, small, young looking so he gives off this harmless vibe could be quite chilling and unnerving when his true colors are shown during a movie.
113
113 - 7/20/2012, 10:30 PM
I could also see Zachary Quinto playing Lex.
bigshow2312
bigshow2312 - 7/21/2012, 2:15 AM
My personal pick is Bokeem Woodbine
Randall Hall Pictures, Images and Photos


But Billy Zane is a great choice!
JayJayCAW
JayJayCAW - 7/21/2012, 2:45 PM
@SuperDude001: thanks and for you....Toby Stephens.....now thats a good choice, I can only remember him from 007 Die Another Day, but if he based Lex on that, then I'm sold :D
DDD
DDD - 7/21/2012, 4:31 PM
You know, almost any actor can play LEX LUTHOR.
Just shave his head and away we go.

I like JON HAMM because he looks and acts like him!
He really fits as an actor!
He would portray him more multidimensional than
just one dimensional, like the amazing MICHAEL
ROSENBAUM but just older.

113@ that is NOT LEX LUTHOR!
LEX LUTHOR is NOT a scrawny little weasel!
That's what was wrong with LEX LUTHOR in
SUPERMAN RETURNS

LEX LUTHOR is tall, powerful, and in charge,
a megalomaniac, corrupt owner of a MASSIVE
CORPORATION! He is always older than SUPERMAN.
Even on SMALLVILLE he is portrayed as older!

He has only and always been portrayed in this way!

STOP REWRITING LEX LUTHOR'S character!

Why do some people think that comic book
characters need to be REWRITTEN!

Their characteristics are what make them, THEM!

STOP REWRITING COMIC BOOK CHARACTERS!
aNarcHy2day
aNarcHy2day - 7/21/2012, 10:13 PM
My pick for Lex is Daniel Craig.

Just think he has the acting chops to pull this one off.

We all talk about a physical Superman. But I want a Lex who is not doing Real Estate scams, for Gods sake!

I want a physically imposing egotist genius who isn't afraid of getting his hands dirty- someone who can actually be the face, brains and ENGINE of something like LEXCORP. That aura that Lex Luthor is as powerful as Superman even without superpowers. That is what Smallville got right and the films didn't. A Lex on an equal footing as Superman.

And I think Craig's stardom would help convey that aura to the audience even before the first line has been spoken!
Joslezio85
Joslezio85 - 7/22/2012, 2:15 AM
@SpanX13. Ryan Gosling is an inspiring choice. The nutcase from Stay, the cool kid from numbers, and the bad ass from drive, meets the suit from ides and march and fracture. Sounds pretty perfect to me. Wonder how he looks bald?
SpanX13
SpanX13 - 7/22/2012, 5:19 AM
I don't think Lex needs to be balled in all honesty,if he's introduced,the idea of him actually going balled from prolonged exposure to kryptonite(which leads to cancer in the comics) would also surfice as a good angle...again who would he blame but superman.

To see a sick Lex being visted by supes...that scene would be hectic.
AlexDeLarge87
AlexDeLarge87 - 7/22/2012, 2:12 PM
JASON ISAACS or PAUL BETTANY all the way. :)

Michael Fassbender should be Brainiac. After i saw him in Prometheus he came my first choice for this role.
AlexDeLarge87
AlexDeLarge87 - 7/22/2012, 2:22 PM
Isaacs has that calculating and cold looks which fits for Luthor´s character perfectly.
Bettany has it also but Isaacs would nail Luthor´s mad temperament too. If anyone has watched Brotherhood they know what im talking about.
aaronversch
aaronversch - 7/22/2012, 7:40 PM
I guess actors can't shave their heads since all the choices are bald.
LP4
LP4 - 7/23/2012, 5:32 AM
@SuperDude- I LOVE ur choice for Luthor! Toby gives off that evil, snobby yet chilling vibe that is very much needed for a rebooted Lex. That would seem like a Lex who finally wouldn't be a goofball for once
batfan84
batfan84 - 10/31/2012, 6:59 PM
How about Jude Law? I also say, keep the accent. There's something more to what someone says when it's with that British accent. With villains, it comes across as both intelligent and menacing. Or not. Just a thought. I'd be interested to see Bradley Cooper do the roll too. There aren't really any movies that I can think of that really show off what he can do as an actor so it's a tough call. The given is Leonardo DiCaprio. For obvious reasons, this type of casting would bring a certain credibility to a second film knowing he was going to be in it as a villain... and not just any villain but perhaps THE villain of the comic book world.
deadpool0811
deadpool0811 - 6/17/2013, 11:26 AM
Bruce Willis
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