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I thought this was so cool!
http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/701/701987p1.html
Superman Returns: The New Lex Luthor
Let us introduce you.
by Steve Head
April 18, 2006 -
He's one of the all-time, quintessential arch enemies. He's maniacally determined. He has a quick mind, a sly sense of humor, an eye for style (albeit outlandish), and no conscience. As nemesis extraordinaire in Superman Returns, Lex Luthor will implement a series of threats that reach beyond Metropolis. Beyond America. And if it all goes to plan: kill Superman. Sounds like the perfect role for Kevin Spacey. It's "the kind of character that's more fun for him," says director Bryan Singer. "Each thing he's doing is so funny, or so strange, or sinister, that it's just fun and for him. It's a joy."
For this new incarnation of Lex Luthor, Spacey was the first choice, right from the start. "We'd always written that role with him in mind," says Singer. "He's an old friend and this is a great opportunity for all the obvious reasons."
Spacey, whose prior collaboration with Singer was his Oscar-winning performance in The Usual Suspects, was almost unable to commit to Superman Returns due to a scheduling conflict. The filmmakers worked overtime, reworking the shooting schedule to adhere to Spacey's six week window of opportunity. "Bryan would prefer to shoot in continuity, but and we didn't have that luxury," says producer Chris Lee. The producers also tried to shift the shooting schedule for Hugh Laurie, who was originally cast as Perry White, but it didn't work. For Spacey, however, they were fortunate. "We made it work. And I think he'll be the definitive Lex."
In fact, when Spacey arrived in Sydney, Australia, they started filming him, proto. "He'd just gotten off the plane and everything," says Singer. "He was a total trooper about it.
As Lex, Singer says Spacey is "Very thoughtful about it" and cares a lot about creating his own version of the character. Kate Bosworth, who stars as Lois Lane, and who co-starred with Spacey in Beyond the Sea, says his philosophy about playing a character that's been played by other actors is: "You should just know the heart and soul of the character. You take it and make it your own and that's what the defines the character now. It's what you do now."
For Lex, style, of course, is key. He has his "pimp" look, says production designer Guy Dyas. He has his "safari/hunting" look, says costume designer Louise Mingenbach. However, what Spacey made his own was Lex's hairstyle, or lack thereof. No curly wig, a-la Gene Hackman. Spacey went for the chrome dome. "He shaved it off," says Singer. "Which was, I'll tell you, very strange."
"He never wears that curly wig," says Dyas. The original script had a line that referred to a curly wig. "Bryan was concerned that if we went too comical with Lex it would take away all of the fear of his character. The idea that he was going to be sort of a clown dressed up in a curly wig, and do the whole campy Gene Hackman thing, didn't work for Bryan at all. [Spacey's decision to go bald was] a great decision. He's a very scary individual. He plays the role so beautifully, it's incredible. He's chilling on screen."
The first time Singer saw Spacey as Lex Luthor, "I completely didn't recognize him. I was walking towards my trailer in the park, and I'm looking this guy staring at me standing by a tree. I thought he was a crewmember, someone I'd never seen before. I keep walking and he's staring me at me all the way and I'm like, 'AHHH!' It was him!"
Now, you might ask, what sort of malevolence is Lex devising to bring down Superman?
Lex will incite trouble, and lots of it. "There will be no lack of intensity," says Singer."It'll probably be PG 13. I don't think you'll be disappointed at all in the level of intensity."
http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/701/701987p1.html
Superman Returns: The New Lex Luthor
Let us introduce you.
by Steve Head
April 18, 2006 -
He's one of the all-time, quintessential arch enemies. He's maniacally determined. He has a quick mind, a sly sense of humor, an eye for style (albeit outlandish), and no conscience. As nemesis extraordinaire in Superman Returns, Lex Luthor will implement a series of threats that reach beyond Metropolis. Beyond America. And if it all goes to plan: kill Superman. Sounds like the perfect role for Kevin Spacey. It's "the kind of character that's more fun for him," says director Bryan Singer. "Each thing he's doing is so funny, or so strange, or sinister, that it's just fun and for him. It's a joy."
For this new incarnation of Lex Luthor, Spacey was the first choice, right from the start. "We'd always written that role with him in mind," says Singer. "He's an old friend and this is a great opportunity for all the obvious reasons."
Spacey, whose prior collaboration with Singer was his Oscar-winning performance in The Usual Suspects, was almost unable to commit to Superman Returns due to a scheduling conflict. The filmmakers worked overtime, reworking the shooting schedule to adhere to Spacey's six week window of opportunity. "Bryan would prefer to shoot in continuity, but and we didn't have that luxury," says producer Chris Lee. The producers also tried to shift the shooting schedule for Hugh Laurie, who was originally cast as Perry White, but it didn't work. For Spacey, however, they were fortunate. "We made it work. And I think he'll be the definitive Lex."
In fact, when Spacey arrived in Sydney, Australia, they started filming him, proto. "He'd just gotten off the plane and everything," says Singer. "He was a total trooper about it.
As Lex, Singer says Spacey is "Very thoughtful about it" and cares a lot about creating his own version of the character. Kate Bosworth, who stars as Lois Lane, and who co-starred with Spacey in Beyond the Sea, says his philosophy about playing a character that's been played by other actors is: "You should just know the heart and soul of the character. You take it and make it your own and that's what the defines the character now. It's what you do now."
For Lex, style, of course, is key. He has his "pimp" look, says production designer Guy Dyas. He has his "safari/hunting" look, says costume designer Louise Mingenbach. However, what Spacey made his own was Lex's hairstyle, or lack thereof. No curly wig, a-la Gene Hackman. Spacey went for the chrome dome. "He shaved it off," says Singer. "Which was, I'll tell you, very strange."
"He never wears that curly wig," says Dyas. The original script had a line that referred to a curly wig. "Bryan was concerned that if we went too comical with Lex it would take away all of the fear of his character. The idea that he was going to be sort of a clown dressed up in a curly wig, and do the whole campy Gene Hackman thing, didn't work for Bryan at all. [Spacey's decision to go bald was] a great decision. He's a very scary individual. He plays the role so beautifully, it's incredible. He's chilling on screen."
The first time Singer saw Spacey as Lex Luthor, "I completely didn't recognize him. I was walking towards my trailer in the park, and I'm looking this guy staring at me standing by a tree. I thought he was a crewmember, someone I'd never seen before. I keep walking and he's staring me at me all the way and I'm like, 'AHHH!' It was him!"
Now, you might ask, what sort of malevolence is Lex devising to bring down Superman?
Without delving into spoiler material, one thing we can tell you is: Lex sort of… kind of... perhaps maybe wants a piece of that valuable Kryptonian crystal he's been hearing about. To that end, he puts together a team. Kal Penn, (who plays Lex's go-to computer guy, Stanford) will only say, there's "five of them. It's sort of a unit. There's inner workings here and there, but I won't say." However, to keep you on your toes, Parker Posey (who plays Lex's gal-pal Killy) says, Lex is "someone who can go under disguise and be anyone he wants to be."
Lex will incite trouble, and lots of it. "There will be no lack of intensity," says Singer."It'll probably be PG 13. I don't think you'll be disappointed at all in the level of intensity."
