SMALLVILLE Star Michael Rosenbaum Reveals He Was Approached To Return As Lex Luthor In Another DC Project

SMALLVILLE Star Michael Rosenbaum Reveals He Was Approached To Return As Lex Luthor In Another DC Project

Michael Rosenbaum played Lex Luthor in seven seasons of Smallville and has revealed why he turned down Crisis on Infinite Earths and recalls being offered the chance to play another version of the villain.

By JoshWilding - Mar 22, 2024 06:03 AM EST
Filed Under: Smallville
Source: Screen Rant

Michael Rosenbaum was a huge part of Smallville during the show's first seven seasons but, when his contract ended, he decided to move on to other projects. The DC TV series attempted to continue Lex Luthor's story - with mixed to poor results - and the actor later returned for a small role in the series finale. 

That was it for him and Smallville until The CW's Crisis on Infinite Earths event rolled around. Tom Welling reprised his role as Clark Kent alongside Erica Durance's Lois Lane, though there was no sign of Rosenbaum's Lex. 

Talking to Screen Rant, the actor opened up on his decision to turn down a cameo role in the epic crossover. 

"There's only room for one Lex. If they're doing this multiverse story, I don't want to be with other Lexes," Rosenbaum says, likely referring to plans for his Lex to meet Jon Cryer's version. "If they want to show me in a different realm, world or universe, great, and then have the other me in another universe, that's fine."

"I didn't really love the idea of having my Lex and other Lexes, it just wasn't something that interested me. I believe that the reason I didn't do it was because they pretty much said, 'Hey, we're shooting this next whatever. We don't have a script. This is what we're getting you. Are you in or out?' I'm like, 'I'm out.' [There was] no money, no script, not telling me what's going on."

Elsewhere in the interview, Rosenbaum confirmed he was asked to play Lex in "another show," and while he declined to say what that was, it seems he seriously considered playing another version of the iconic comic book villain. 

"They were considering me for another show, to play Lex Luthor," he reveals. "I'm not going to say what it was for, but they wanted me and I think that ultimately, it didn't work out. But I was flattered. There was something else that I turned down, and it didn't get picked up, either. But I met with everybody, just to be respectful."

"I was honored as it's always nice to get an offer, but it was the kind of role where you needed make up for, and it was probably a couple of hours of make-up every morning. I can't really say what it was, but I just said, 'No thanks. I'm not doing this for a show.' For a movie, you [would] consider something! That's the thing, if you're playing Lex Luthor for two or three months for a movie, big deal, shave your head! It's a little different shaving your head for seven years."

We can't help but wonder what these mystery projects were, though Superman & Lois seems like a strong possibility for the first one. Post-Crisis, that series takes place in its own reality and replaced Supergirl's Jon Cryer with Michael Cudlitz as Lex. Rosenbaum showing up as Lex would have been one heck of a surprise for fans!

Earlier this week, the actor talked about his hopes to return as Lex either in a Smallville animated series or movie. You can hear more about that by clicking here

SMALLVILLE Star Erica Durance Reveals Where She'd Like To Take Lois Lane Next In Possible Animated Revival
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Blergh
Blergh - 3/22/2024, 6:27 AM
Probably S&L but that show has a tiny budget
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 3/22/2024, 9:48 AM
@Blergh - until this upcoming season I thought this show had one of the biggest budgets of the cw shows.
dagenspear
dagenspear - 3/22/2024, 4:12 PM
@lazlodaytona - I think I remember reading that showrunner said, that working on Flash he learned how to use the budget to make the show look more grand.
Doomsday8888
Doomsday8888 - 3/22/2024, 6:33 AM
Can't blame him tbh, still...would've loved that small(ville) reunion.
Blergh
Blergh - 3/22/2024, 5:42 PM
@Doomsday8888 - I know Welling doesn't want to don the suit but I'm still really into the idea of getting a semi-sequel in Metropolis uniting most of the OG cast
TheManWithoutFear
TheManWithoutFear - 3/22/2024, 6:58 AM
That's weirdly the way i feel about Spider-Man. I like Spider-Man when there's one Spider-Man. I like Spider-Verse because Miles is that universe's Spider-Man. The one and only. They lose me completely in stories where Miles and Peter are both Spider-Man at the same time, in the same universe. I care about neither of them at that point.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 3/22/2024, 7:00 AM
That sucks since seeing him and Cryer (who imo as of now is the closest live action version to reach Rosenbaum’s level) would have been real fun but oh well.

I wonder also what those mystery projects were , especially the one that required makeup…

If it wasn’t animated then I can see him either being offered Lex for Titans or Superman & Lois (likely the latter) but I personally think Michael Cudlitz is a better fit for that version which is darker , more physically imposing and Kingpin-esque.

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Arthorious
Arthorious - 3/22/2024, 11:56 AM
@TheVisionary25 - my man has come a long way from D3 the Mighty Ducks. Although the was 31 playing a high school senior
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 3/22/2024, 12:00 PM
@Arthorious - the funnier thing to me was Tom Welling playing a high school freshman

No way this dude just got out of middle school lol

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Arthorious
Arthorious - 3/22/2024, 1:07 PM
@TheVisionary25 - that’s right he was a freshmen! Those were the times. Have they talked about that animated series of Smallville? Is that still happening? I’d be down to watch it.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 3/22/2024, 1:15 PM
@Arthorious - last I heard they are still working on it and waiting for the right time to pitch it

They have what they want it to be.
Beer85
Beer85 - 3/22/2024, 8:05 AM
He is a great Luthor. Good that he turned down Crisis, that CW crossover was horrible. I wonder if it was S&L he was asked to be in , could have been that episode of TITANS with Lex Luthor too.
dragon316
dragon316 - 3/22/2024, 8:59 AM
Would have love to see him lex one last time don’t blame him many lex sounds kang dynasty lead up
Imprtracr1
Imprtracr1 - 3/22/2024, 9:18 AM
Still the GOAT Lex.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 3/22/2024, 5:50 PM
@Imprtracr1 - why
JackBurton1
JackBurton1 - 3/22/2024, 8:08 PM
@Imprtracr1 - Agree...really isn't close either.Having said that...Hoult could end up being the new king of Lex...time will tell.
valmic
valmic - 3/22/2024, 9:28 AM
It’s was for the show Powerless.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 3/22/2024, 9:50 AM
@valmic - that show was so bad but I loved it anyway
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 3/22/2024, 9:52 AM
At least he's not one of those tv actors begging to play the same character in a movie too.
I'll never get why so many fans want something like that.
knomad
knomad - 3/22/2024, 11:05 AM
Smallville was one very underrated show. And it lasted 10 years!

Other than Christopher Reeve, I don't know that any other Superman actor captured the main character better. And Rosenbaum's Luthor's relationship with him was just perfect up until he sat out some.

I know it'll never happen, but I'd love to see a Smallville sequel. My daughter is 16 and we're binging through it all, and she loves it. Season 2 right now. Brings it all back!
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 3/22/2024, 6:03 PM
@knomad - dude, Smallville was a teeny-bopper show that started off for 4 seasons of "villain of the week," typical WB/CW teen drama, Clark played football (which spits on the face of what Glenn Ford told Clark in Superman: The Movie), introduced every villain from Bizzaro to Brainiac to Metallo to Toy Man ect. before he even came close to being Superman, destroyed the Doomsday story, and introduced the dumbest Justice League ever.

Plus, Lois meets Clark in Smallville first? Naked Clark? (I do believe Durance was a great Lois btw). Oh, and they tortured Rosenbaum EVERY DAY by shaving his head but couldn't dye Lana's hair red at least once a week?

I'm one of the few that actually liked the last 2 seasons of the show. It was WAY more about Clark's heritage and becoming Superman.

This show was just fodder for drama-queen yuppies desperate for lame Superman action like the 90's Lois and Clark.

You want a great Supe's show? Superman & Lois.
knomad
knomad - 3/27/2024, 10:36 AM
@lazlodaytona - My daughter is a teeny-bopper. And it's better than 9/10 of the stuff on TV now, especially for her.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 3/28/2024, 10:57 AM
@knomad - I'm glad your daughter enjoys it. Exposing Supes to any generation how you can is a good thing.

However, I would assume you and I are multi-dimensional fans, so you'd have to walk ur way slowly into Superman with your kid.
Heck, Bruce Timm's animated Supes show and then Justice League + JL Unlimited would show her a ton more.

Again, Superman & Lois would also be a great way to keep ur kid with Supes.....considering his two teenage sons and all.
knomad
knomad - 3/28/2024, 1:55 PM
@lazlodaytona - I've been a big S&L fan too. I hear the sons have been recast? Or most of the cast isn't coming back? That stinks.

Timm's Justice League was one of the best superhero shows ever done. JLI.. not so much.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 4/1/2024, 9:05 AM
@knomad - Jonathan was recast and I believe was already in the 3rd season. I know he's already been on the show.
NemesisApoc
NemesisApoc - 3/22/2024, 7:33 PM
They wouldn't dream of casting a jew as a corporate villain these days. Too on the nose.
JackBurton1
JackBurton1 - 3/22/2024, 8:08 PM
@NemesisApoc - WTF....
knomad
knomad - 3/28/2024, 1:57 PM
@NemesisApoc - Thanks for that, Adolph

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