Luthor - who would you cast?

[thunderbolt]

Usually I'm a traditionalist, but I like the idea of the mega-wealthy industrialist Luthor. I think it's a cool update of the character that comments on current events. I know people are tired of Luthor because they want to see Supes tackle a physical superpower, but I was always more interested in Luthor because of how he forces us (and hopefully, especially, kids) to consider what 'power' means in reality.

That's why you go with mad scientist Lex, you may get a battle suit or an evil clone. With business Lex, you get an evil fax or post it note.

[Operation:Mego]

That's why you go with mad scientist Lex, you may get a battle suit or an evil clone. With business Lex, you get an evil fax or post it note.

I have a feeling they'll go with the battle suit option. Zod did remove his in a LexCorp construction site.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I think you go with evil genius businessman Lex, and let him evolve into the battle-suit wearing version, like on JLU. Lex is a businessman in 2, and he creates Metallo for Superman to fight, then in 3, Superman brings his empire down and he decides to do the job himself.

Chris

[sprytel]

Yeah, I'm thinking a Steve Jobs type... brilliant, rich, and charismatic.

[Brazoo]

That's why you go with mad scientist Lex, you may get a battle suit or an evil clone. With business Lex, you get an evil fax or post it note.

My point of view is that we all know Superman is going to win no matter who he faces - he can face a guy who's 10 times as strong as him and 10 times the size - it doesn't matter, Superman will find a way to win. Maybe the punch up will be fun to watch - but there seems like enough action movies that do this kind of thing already.

I actually liked the Lex in Donner's Superman - his abilities were confined within the boundaries of what an intelligent, driven and evil guy might have been able to do at that time. Exaggerated a bit, sure - but it IS a movie - I'm cool with that.

To me what Lex does is force us to think about why Superman is Super. Supe's physical abilities are cool, but it doesn't make Superman admirable as a character. It's his morals and fortitude that makes us admire Superman, and the contrast with Lex forces us to think about regular real life people who DO have real life powers - and the Supes/Lex conflict gives us a cool morality fable that addresses that issue.

And yeah, in real life the powerful people use faxes and post-it notes, but also finances to control politics and create propaganda and misuse technology - if the filmmakers can find a way to make that angle exciting I'd find that a lot more intriguing than Superman Vs. Evil Reed Richards/Tony Stark.

[Brazoo]

Yeah, I'm thinking a Steve Jobs type... brilliant, rich, and charismatic.

Yeah - I like that angle a lot more, personally. Or how about Richard Branson meets Idi Amin?

[Operation:Mego]

Top contenders are now:

Adam Harris


Billy Zane:


Mark Strong


And Viggo Mortensen:

I like all those suggestions. Daniel Day Lewis could probably play anything, Zane has charisma and I could definitely see Willis in the role. "Up, Up and Away, m***** F*****."

I read Brad Pitt's name floated as a Richard Branson type Luthor. It'd be a stretch, but....

Christoph Waltz might not be a bad choice if he could work on the accent.

Yeah, Snyder talked about seeing a modern take of Lex as a combination of Richard Branson and Brad Pitt & with hair.

[thunderbolt]

Of all these, I like Zane the best for the gig. He can go from zero to nutso in under 5 seconds. Hope they go with a public nice Lex and a behind the scenes mad science type Lex. Anything would be better than a drab straight evil business guy.

[Operation:Mego]

^^ Exactly; we're in agreement there.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I don't think Zane is a big enough actor now. I think you'll see someone with star power cast. If Crowe is in it as Jor-El, maybe not, but without him, the studio will want a more bankable name.

Chris

[sprytel]

I don't think Zane is a big enough actor now. I think you'll see someone with star power cast. If Crowe is in it as Jor-El, maybe not, but without him, the studio will want a more bankable name.

Chris

Agreed. I expect this to be a huge vanity role for some big movie star... much like Nicholson's Joker.

[enyawd72]

I don't think Zane is a big enough actor now. I think you'll see someone with star power cast. If Crowe is in it as Jor-El, maybe not, but without him, the studio will want a more bankable name.

Chris

I'd watch Zane in the role just to hear him say this line..."I'm sending you on a one way trip to the Phantom Zone, beeyotch!"

[Operation:Mego]

Here's a cool fan-made pic of Strong as Luthor in Zod's armor:

[Earth 2 Chris]

Mark Strong would be great, but he was in Green Lantern, and I think with the success of MOS, GL is now the red-headed stepchild of DC on film. Granted, he was great in that, so maybe...but I personally doubt it. Just my gut feeling.

Chris

[Operation:Mego]

Actually, both Snyder and WB strongly want Strong for the role. I've read that he's still hoping for a GL sequel. Of course, a bunch of actors have played multiple comic characters so we'll see if he accepts it.