Today, Warner Bros. Pictures announced that Jesse Eisenberg has been officially set to star as Lex Luthor in the sequel to Man of Steel. In the press release, Zack Snyder stated, “Lex Luthor is often considered the most notorious of Superman’s rivals, his unsavory reputation preceding him since 1940. What’s great about Lex is that he exists beyond the confines of the stereotypical nefarious villain. He’s a complicated and sophisticated character whose intellect, wealth and prominence position him as one of the few mortals able to challenge the incredible might of Superman. Having Jesse in the role allows us to explore that interesting dynamic, and also take the character in some new and unexpected directions.”
Warner Bros. has got some pretty big balls to cast Eisenberg for this role. 😳 http://t.co/eSU2qC3sbN
— Ryan Jordan (@Ryleej01) January 31, 2014
Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor? Is he going to talk fast the whole film and make quips about being bald?
— Crystal K.M. (@CrystalKM) January 31, 2014
In addition to Jesse Eisenberg, Jeremy Irons has been set to play Alfred. The director said, “As everyone knows, Alfred is Bruce Wayne’s most trusted friend, ally and mentor, a noble guardian and father figure. He is an absolutely critical element in the intricate infrastructure that allows Bruce Wayne to transform himself into Batman. It is an honor to have such an amazingly seasoned and gifted actor as Jeremy taking on the important role of the man who mentors and guides the guarded and nearly impervious facade that encapsulates Bruce Wayne.”
The film is set to open worldwide on May 6, 2016. What do you think of the new cast?