The Official Lex Luthor Casting Thread

[Keyser Soze]

Nice post.

Thanks! t:

I agree with everything except:

- Lex isnt as smart as he thinks he is. I prefer the canon version where he is in the top 3 smartest people on earth.

I do think he'd be ranked among the 3 smartest people on Earth. When saying "he's not as smart as he thinks he is", I wasn't implying that his intelligence is limited, but rather was making a comment on his gargantuan ego, in that he probably views himself as being on a whole mental plain above even the other smartest people in the world.

- He blames Superman for his failures. I'd rather he's not a ******** crybaby, but rather obsessed with Superman and not being able to trust him like the rest of the world does. Again, canon.

I wouldn't say blaming Superman for his failures necessarily equates to ******** crybaby. And I'd say it's more canon that, rather than Luthor genuinely having the best interests of humanity at heart in his suspicion of Superman and legitimately feeling he is a threat to the world that can't be trusted, it's a rationalisation he hides behind to justify his envy of Superman and the way the world looks at him. Lex Luthor is someone who has the whole world under his fingertips, he's one of the wealthiest, most powerful men on the planet... but it's still not enough for him. There's still a void that can't be filled, and so Superman gives all his discontent a convenient physical shape. When he kills Superman, THEN he can truly attain the greatness he expects of himself...

- I never liked him being raised in Smallville. Too much of a coincidence and frankly its lazy writing. "We grew up in the same town but Lionel is responsible for my villainy. HURR." I wouldnt mind it if his parents were great people and him striving to live up to their name. But then all his good deeds go unnoticed when a flying man appears to steal his thunder. I would just like to see Lex evolve to villainy, in a "the end justifies the means" way, rather than straight up villainy. But i'd take anything over the smallville-Lionel-HURR origin.

I'm not a fan of Smallville's on-the-nose "Lionel Luthor is a Machiavellian businessman who raises a Machiavellian businessman for a son in his own image." But I did like the original Post-Crisis idea of Luthor growing up in desperate poverty in the Suicide Slums, living with abusive parents who he eventually puts out a hefty life unsurance policy out on and kills in order to become a self-made man. I like the idea that pretty much everything else Luthor subsequently did was an attempt to erase those meagre, shameful beginnings from existence. There's a real "Daniel Plainview from There Will Be Blood" vibe about that. And I liked Geoff Johns' recent retcon of shifting that impoverished, abused childhood from the Suicide Slums to Smallville, and calling his deadbeat, alcoholic father Lionel, in an attempt to tie together Luthor's various origins from over the decades.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Yeah. I can accept Lois not knowing Clark Kent is Superman, but if Lex can't even recognize the guy he grew up with then it would seem like Metropolis is full of idiots.

To again turn to Geoff Johns' most recent attempt at a Superman origin, I like the idea that, while both Lex and Clark grew up in Smallville, they only met a handful of times, and that Clark's one attempt to befriend Luthor was snubbed.

 

[The Demon's Head]

Since he's too old to play Superman, how about John Hamm as Lex?

 

[hopefuldreamer]

I'm not a fan of Smallville's on-the-nose "Lionel Luthor is a Machiavellian businessman who raises a Machiavellian businessman for a son in his own image." But I did like the original Post-Crisis idea of Luthor growing up in desperate poverty in the Suicide Slums, living with abusive parents who he eventually puts out a hefty life unsurance policy out on and kills in order to become a self-made man. I like the idea that pretty much everything else Luthor subsequently did was an attempt to erase those meagre, shameful beginnings from existence. There's a real "Daniel Plainview from There Will Be Blood" vibe about that. And I liked Geoff Johns' recent retcon of shifting that impoverished, abused childhood from the Suicide Slums to Smallville, and calling his deadbeat, alcoholic father Lionel, in an attempt to tie together Luthor's various origins from over the decades.

This is definitely how i'd like Lex's past to be in the new film.

To me, his hatred of Superman has always stemmed from the fact that he is pretty much the only thing threatening the life he's built for himself. And the idea of EVER loosing his position of power, and the fact that this is just what Superman wants to do (expose him and have him pay for his crimes in jail) is enough to make it neccesary to eliminate him.

 

[BestGirl]

To again turn to Geoff Johns' most recent attempt at a Superman origin, I like the idea that, while both Lex and Clark grew up in Smallville, they only met a handful of times, and that Clark's one attempt to befriend Luthor was snubbed.

That would be better, but I still don't like the idea of Superman's main villain coming from the same small town as he does. It's too much of a coincidence, and I'm a little tired of supervillains having some sort of personal tie with the hero. Luthor coming from the slums of Metropolis would be good enough for me.

 

[TheWatcher]

Jeffery Donovan is an inspired choice! He's a great actor. Watch Burn Notice; he often has many cover identity's which makes him act like other types of people. Lex Luthor needs to be suave one minute and crazed another.

 

[jesusmagicka]

Jeffery Donovan is an inspired choice! He's a great actor. Watch Burn Notice; he often has many cover identity's which makes him act like other types of people. Lex Luthor needs to be suave one minute and crazed another.

Plus he played a *****e in Hitch and then another *****e in that Clint Eastwood/Angelina Jolie movie...

Plus, his face just fits Lex. I think he'd look good bald. Unlike Patrick Wilson, whose gettin' a bit pudgy.

 

[DorkyFresh]

Plus he played a *****e in Hitch and then another *****e in that Clint Eastwood/Angelina Jolie movie...

Plus, his face just fits Lex. I think he'd look good bald. Unlike Patrick Wilson, whose gettin' a bit pudgy.

haha...who is getting personal now, huh? besides, Patrick Wilson was slightly pudgy in Watchmen last year and he looked just fine in A-Team this year. either man would make a good looking Lex if you ask me. they're both handsome men that have a somewhat villainous look to them.

 

[jesusmagicka]

haha...who is getting personal now, huh? besides, Patrick Wilson was slightly pudgy in Watchmen last year and he looked just fine in A-Team this year. either man would make a good looking Lex if you ask me. they're both handsome men that have a somewhat villainous look to them.

IMO, Wilson just looks like the dude next door. He looks like an everyman.

 

[DorkyFresh]

well...he CAN look like the dude next door/everyman, but he can also look like an evil agent (A-Team), a nerd by day superhero by night (Watchmen), and even a dashingly handsome count (Phantom of the Opera). as an actor, he's supposed to be able to look like and portray a variety of character types, the more varied the better. so while you're right in that he looks like an average joe, which he has played in several movies, many directors were able to see other types of characters at the same time. he's a versatile actor...on top of that he's already worked with Snyder. i doubt he'll be cast as Lex...but i would be elated if that happened.

at the same time, if your preferred choice of Donovan were cast as Lex, i could rest easy knowing that they'd at least cast someone who looks the part.

 

[jesusmagicka]

well...he CAN look like the dude next door/everyman, but he can also look like an evil agent (A-Team), a nerd by day superhero by night (Watchmen), and even a dashingly handsome count (Phantom of the Opera). as an actor, he's supposed to be able to look like and portray a variety of character types, the more varied the better. so while you're right in that he looks like an average joe, which he has played in several movies, many directors were able to see other types of characters at the same time. he's a versatile actor...on top of that he's already worked with Snyder. i doubt he'll be cast as Lex...but i would be elated if that happened.

at the same time, if your preferred choice of Donovan were cast as Lex, i could rest easy knowing that they'd at least cast someone who looks the part.

I can't believe you've never seen Burn Notice. But here's Donovan playin' a *****e:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H42jVUavXiA

He actually reminds me of a young Christopher Walken looks-wise.

 

[DorkyFresh]

oh yeah...that guy, hehe. great scene...he plays a good *****e.

 

[FVD]

Man I can totally side with Daniel Craig as Lex. Make it so!!!

 

[Keyser Soze]

oh yeah...that guy, hehe. great scene...he plays a good *****e.

He was a spectacular *****e in Changeling.

 

[GreenKToo]

I don't know who they'll get, but I want to be blown away by the Lex casting..
I don't wanna say Who?? when he's cast.

 

[Mr. Earle]

That would be better, but I still don't like the idea of Superman's main villain coming from the same small town as he does. It's too much of a coincidence, and I'm a little tired of supervillains having some sort of personal tie with the hero. Luthor coming from the slums of Metropolis would be good enough for me.

Too much of a coincidence indeed.

I'd personally rather have Lex grow up as a rich kid in Metropolis. I havent made up my mind on whether his parents should be good or bad. I'm leaning towards good. Rather than "you would have been a villain too if you had bad parents", the thing would be that Lex had everything, but he lacked Clark's strength of character to stay on the right path. Its not like Clark had the perfect life, now did he?

Finally, I know he is Superman's greatest villain, but we dont necessarily need to draw parallels between them since childhood. Does the Joker need such things to work?

 

[hopefuldreamer]

I don't know who they'll get, but I want to be blown away by the Lex casting..
I don't wanna say Who?? when he's cast.

Same.

Would kind of prefer a Superman who's an unknown, and a Lois who isn't that known. But I want a Lex that's going to make people want to watch the movie, just to see 'so and so' playing Lex Luthor... kind of like going to see TDK so you can see Heath Ledger playing Joker. Just something that's going to get people talking.

 

[Keyser Soze]

I'm still quite fond of the idea of Leonardo DiCaprio as Lex Luthor, but I don't think he'd do it.

 

[Changeling]

I've been sold on Craig for Lex

 

[GreenKToo]

I'm still quite fond of the idea of Leonardo DiCaprio as Lex Luthor, but I don't think he'd do it.

I've been sold on Craig for Lex

either one, or someone else just as good. Jason Isaacs would be great.

( on a side note, I still hate we lost Hugo to Cap, I think he would have made an excellent Brainiac )

 

[baleheadbrasil]

I liked the Craig´s manips as Lex...but I´m not sure if he would convince in the role.
I can´t see him as a villain. I don´t know why.

 

[GreenKToo]

I don't know..For me, craig has a smarta$$ed smug feel to him, so I think he would make a good Lex.

 

[Keyser Soze]

I liked the Craig´s manips as Lex...but I´m not sure if he would convince in the role.
I can´t see him as a villain. I don´t know why.

Daniel Craig is fine as a villain. He convincingly played a total scumbag in Road to Perdition.

 

[baleheadbrasil]

I didn´t watch Road to Perdition to say.
But I can´t see him as Lex.
At least not yet.

 

[gillberg2k1]

I'm all for Craig as Lex. Chances of it actually happening are slim, but I love the idea.