The Official Lex Luthor Casting Thread - Part 6

[Fudgie]

I wonder if Lex's role in this franchise will be

Spoiler

rebuilding Metropolis

after the events of MAN OF STEEL, and that's how they'll bring him into the story.

Aces idea.

 

[godisawesome]

Then he and Superman couldn't have any face-to-face interactions, oor else Luthor would recognize him immediately.

Well, if they have an excuse for why Lois, who usually winds up loving one of his identities if not both of them, then they can probably explain away Lex not recognizing Clark as a formation of his arrogance and Clark's different demeanors. I always figured that someone would one day write the amalgamated Lex and make a point that he always acts condescending with Clark, who would probably continue to act like a "mild mannered" old friend of his, while Superman would have the whole glowing red eyes thing to help throw Lex off his game whenever they meet. I also just love the idea that someday Lex may realize they're the same person and just go nuts over because 1) he feels stupid for not seeing it before, 2) some small feeling of betrayal on Clark's part aggravates Lex, and 3) he realizes that any of the parts of Clark's life that he's jealous of (marriage to Lois, healthy parental relationships in contrast to his own) also belong to Superman. It's one of the reasons I liked that part of Action Comics 900.

 

[BestGirl]

Well, if they have an excuse for why Lois, who usually winds up loving one of his identities if not both of them, then they can probably explain away Lex not recognizing Clark as a formation of his arrogance and Clark's different demeanors. I always figured that someone would one day write the amalgamated Lex and make a point that he always acts condescending with Clark, who would probably continue to act like a "mild mannered" old friend of his, while Superman would have the whole glowing red eyes thing to help throw Lex off his game whenever they meet. I also just love the idea that someday Lex may realize they're the same person and just go nuts over because 1) he feels stupid for not seeing it before, 2) some small feeling of betrayal on Clark's part aggravates Lex, and 3) he realizes that any of the parts of Clark's life that he's jealous of (marriage to Lois, healthy parental relationships in contrast to his own) also belong to Superman. It's one of the reasons I liked that part of Action Comics 900.

If you adhere to the mythology, it's the glasses that throw Lois off. However unrealistic that may be, it's her excuse, and one that Lex won't have. It's unlikely he would've known Clark all through childhood and never once saw him sans glasses. Besides, Lois could constantly blow Clark off and barely notice him. It's one thing not to realize that a superhero is the coworker you rarely pay attention to, but not recognizing your own friend would make no sense at all.

The only way I could see your idea working would be if Clark adopted a red-eyed look around Lex, as you suggested. That would be his version of the glasses.

 

[Fudgie]

I could never buy the glasses thing, even though I love Supes. It was too silly.

 

[godisawesome]

What type of connections to the rest of the cast do you guys think Lex should have? Should he have dated Lois sometime in the past? Should he have an ex-wife, a daughter, his bodyguards Hope and Mercy, or should he be an old friend of Perry White?

I always figured you could give him his own sub-supporting cast within the Superman cast, and I like the idea that he employs Amazons as bodyguards, may have some jealousy over his daughter's fandom for Superman, and that he's got a nasty ex just waiting to come after him.

 

[Lead Cenobite]

I don't want him to have anything to do with any regular character for the most part. Having him be old friends with Perry White or dating Lois just felt like they were trying too hard to be different.

 

[Zeerola]

It's unlikely he would've known Clark all through childhood and never once saw him sans glasses.

It could be explained by them not seeing each other since high-school. So he simply wouldn't connect the shy and kinda awkward Clark with the mighty and almost godlike Superman.

 

[spiderfan970]

Then he and Superman couldn't have any face-to-face interactions, oor else Luthor would recognize him immediately.

He could if Clark wore glasses before he met Lex. I liked the way Geoff Johns had Clark wear them to control his heat vision when he was a teenager. Just do that.

 

[BestGirl]

He could if Clark wore glasses before he met Lex. I liked the way Geoff Johns had Clark wear them to control his heat vision when he was a teenager. Just do that.

Again, it's unlikely that if Lex had known Clark for years that he'd never seen him without glasses. At any rate, it may be a moot point because it's been speculated that we first see Clark putting on the glasses at the end of the movie.

 

[Zeerola]

At any rate, it may be a moot point because it's been speculated that we first see Clark putting on the glasses at the end of the movie.

You mean that we will only see him as Superman and he takes his Clark Kent - journalist persona at the end?

 

[Rodrigo90]

Yup. As far as we know.

 

[godisawesome]

We'll get to see bearded Clark for at least the first part of the movie, and that will probably be the closest he'll have to a disguise until the glasses come out.

 

[Bren]

I... I just have never ever had a problem playing into the glasses disguise. But no surprise since I still prefer the original suit too.

 

[charl_huntress]

The glasses are not the real reason Lois never figured out Clark was Superman. "Clark" played such a good role she just couldn't believe it could be him. Her instincts failed her because in many incarnations she thought it could be him, but she dismissed because "Clark" had her fooled.

I also think Lois really didn't believe "Superman" could exist with normal every day humans, which Clark did. So it wasn't just the glasses.

Anyways, I'm still rooting for Armie Hammer as Lex! lol

 

[flickchick85]

I always liked the idea of the "secret identity" working because Superman doesn't wear a mask, leaving everyone to assume that he just is who he is 24/7. So when people notice that Clark looks like him, they just think he's some guy who's lucky enough to be a doppelganger for Superman - but ya know, seemingly shorter and all-around less impressive, lol.

I feel like Batman complimented Clark on the genius of that "disguise" at some point for that very reason in the comics, but I'm not sure when that was.

That said, I think Lex would be the one to see through that concept if he knew Clark pre-Superman, which is one of the reasons I've always hated that approach to their backstory.

 

[charl_huntress]

Him not wearing a mask is a part of it, but considering what Superman could do. I always figured it as Lois and others not believing someone who has the powers of a "god" working a 9-5 job like a normal person.

They could never see Superman as a "normal" person, so any disguise would have worked. For me the lack of the mask adds into the god-hood persona that he doesn't need one, so why would he "pretend" to be human. The jokes on them though because Superman was raised as a "human". That's the cool side joke "we" know.

 

[Krumm]

The new shot of Matt Damon in Elysium reminds me of Lex and his mech suit... albiet an extremely light version of it.

 

[TheWatcher]

What about Jon Hamm?

 

[Fudgie]

Never heard of him. What's he done that was good?

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

I was just about to suggest Damon for Lex. Matt is very political in his personal life, and has sort of a disarming demeanor. I think all that could make for him being an interesting and outside the box villain.

 

[Rust]

I dunno about Damon. He doesnt come off too intimidating to me. He's too much the charming shy blond kid from next door.

 

[Rowsdower!]

I'm guessing you've never see the Bourne movies, The Departed, Green Zone and The Talented Mr. Ripley?

Hell, even School Ties and Good Will Hunting...

Damon is versatile, and can play a badass, a sociopath, a psycho, whatever the role requires.

 

[Rust]

Yeah, I have seen some of those movies, but like I said, he doesnt convince me in the badass role. I just dont think he has the presence for it.

 

[godisawesome]

I'm guessing you've never see the Bourne movies, The Departed, Green Zone and The Talented Mr. Ripley?

Hell, even School Ties and Good Will Hunting...

Damon is versatile, and can play a badass, a sociopath, a psycho, whatever the role requires.

He's also been suggested before for the role in one of this threads previous iterations, and I'll repeat my argument from then: Matt Damon, or an actor similar to him (an actor ususally cast in heroic or anti-heroic roles who's just a generation or so older than Cavill) would be perfect for the role because he'd bring good-guy charisma to a nefarious bad-guy. We need someone who can almost convince us he is taking a principled stand against "the alien" while still having the range to go really dark.

 

[Krumm]

He's also been suggested before for the role in one of this threads previous iterations, and I'll repeat my argument from then: Matt Damon, or an actor similar to him (an actor ususally cast in heroic or anti-heroic roles who's just a generation or so older than Cavill) would be perfect for the role because he'd bring good-guy charisma to a nefarious bad-guy. We need someone who can almost convince us he is taking a principled stand against "the alien" while still having the range to go really dark.

Well put.