‘Superman/Batman’: Can Jesse Eisenberg hack it as Lex Luthor? [poll]
Mark Zuckerberg as supervillain? Not quite, but the casting of Jesse Eisenberg as the evil mastermind Lex Luthor in the upcoming “Superman/Batman” movie certainly calls to mind the actor’s Oscar-nominated performance as the young tech billionaire in “The Social Network.”
Eisenberg, 30, makes for a considerably younger Luthor than audiences are used to seeing on the big screen — Gene Hackman was in his late 40s when he filmed “Superman: The Movie,” as was Kevin Spacey on “Superman Returns” — and some moviegoers will no doubt question whether he has the gravitas to play a megalomaniac, or enough menace to convincingly threaten Superman.
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Some fans will also be disappointed that Bryan Cranston won’t be playing Luthor, as he was widely rumored to be in the running for the part last year.
On the other hand, Eisenberg’s casting suggests that director Zack Snyder is looking to take the Luthor character in a different direction, which would prove interesting. Perhaps Eisenberg’s Luthor will prove to be a shrewd, tech-savvy wunderkind with an insatiable appetite for power (sound familiar?).
We’re curious to hear what you think. Let us know in the poll below.
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