We May See Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor in 'Suicide Squad'

If Marvel can do it, so can Warner Bros., and we've seen the latter aiming high in building their DC Comics universe. With ten movies coming over the next few years that means plenty of opportunity for crossovers, and it looks like we're going to see one involving David Ayer's Suicide Squad.

According to Deadline, talks are underway for Jesse Eisenberg to reprise his role as Lex Luthor in Suicide Squad, after appearing in (and apparently surviving) Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The search is underway for an A-list cast to star in the film, with Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Tom Hardy, and Ryan Gosling sought to play the team of government-sanctioned villains. So what does Lex Luthor have to do with them? Not much, but they crossed paths during the Doomsday Protocol storyline which took place when he was briefly President of the United States. Yes, Luthor was the POTUS for awhile.

There's just one problem, and it's Eisenberg's schedule. He's set to star in Arms & the Dudes, the crime film from The Hangover's Todd Phillips. He may have to choose one or the other, and something tells me WB is going to have the edge on this one. Suicide Squad opens August 5th 2016 with production to begin in the spring.

Read More

Rumored Character Details for Wonder Woman, Batman, and Lex Luthor in 'Batman v Superman'

There has been a great deal of attention focused on the future of Warner Bros.' DC Comics movies, but before any of that unfolds there's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice to deal with first. And as we saw with the failed Green Lantern movie, one screw-up can alter the course of an entire franchise. The gang over at Joblo.com have rounded up some new 'Dawn of Justice' info that goes into some detail on Wonder Woman's costume and screen time, Batman's home, and even a little bit on Lex Luthor and why he's such a jerk. This is all available via Youtube video, so we'll just skim the basics and you can watch the vid for the full deal. And obviously, there are some spoilers beyond this point.

There had been some conflicting reports in regards to the costume Gal Gadot (the image above is fan made, not official) would be wearing as Wonder Woman, with some stating she'd be wearing the updated version with jacket and leggings, but it will reportedly be a traditional "battle ready" costume that is "ripped straight from the comics". She'll also have her full arsenal of weapons from the shield, sword, spear, and of course the golden Lasso of Truth. Wonder Woman won't just be making a cameo, either, as she's said to have a fair amount of screen time and is involved in a major battle sequence.

The relationship between Batman's "grizzled veteran" crime fighter and Superman will be much as it is in the comics, with their personalities frequently clashing. Ben Affleck's Bruce Wayne will have Wayne Manor , although his Batcave is situated underneath another building on the property. And as for Lex Luthor, played by Jesse Eisenberg who may have red hair in the beginning of the film, he's basically pissed because Superman makes him feel inadequate. This causes Lex to try and partially succeed in swaying public opinion against Superman, calling him a threat to humanity.

The rest you can check out in the below video. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice opens May 6th 2016.

Read More

Possible Details on Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor in 'Batman vs. Superman'

It seems some just can't get over Jesse Eisenberg playing Lex Luthor in Batman vs. Superman, and the complaining about Zombieland star has yet to slow down over the last week. Perhaps they had their minds set on someone else (Bryan Cranston, maybe?), or feel the character will stick too closely to his portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network, although why that would be a bad thing is unclear. Whatever the case may be, nobody has any exact details on who Lex Luthor will actually be in the film, although Latino Review claims to know.

The site, which admits this could all change due to Chris Terrio's rewrite, has hit their sources and come up with a spoiler-filled description of Luthor and his connection to Superman and Batman. First of all, they note that Lex is most definitely bald, and is apparently "one part tech genius, one part ruthless business man and two parts Metropolis street tough." with tattoos of Metropolis on his body. He's the richest man on the planet and the owner of LexCorp, and he perceives Superman to be an alien (which he literally is!) and an intruder on this planet. He also doesn't think very highly of Bruce Wayne, considering him to be a trust fund baby born into his wealth, while Luthor worked his way up from the streets. While he's convinced Superman is mortal and can be killed, his real obsession is with Batman, leading so some sort of eventual conflict.

Okay, so the "street tough" stuff sounds a little ridiculous and not at all the sort of role one would expect from Eisenberg, there's every reason to believe he can pull it off. Plus it makes more sense to have an actor closer to Henry Cavill's age, and Warner Bros. came to that same conclusion according to THR. While Girls star Adam Driver was considered for the role at one point, he had to pass due to a scheduling conflict. So much for those rumors of him playing Nightwing. Joaquin Phoenix was in the mix but turned it down, and Cranston, who seems to have been the popular choice, was never even approached. 

We'll see if any of this Luthor stuff pans out when Batman vs. Superman opens May 6th 2016. 

Read More

Jesse Eisenberg is Lex Luthor and Jeremy Irons is Alfred in 'Batman vs. Superman'

So while the rumors have suggested Bryan Cranston or Joaquin Phoenix for the Lex Luthor role in Batman vs. Superman, Warner Bros. is going in a completely different direction. With Henry Cavill as a somewhat younger version of the Man of Steel, they are going for a more youthful version of his arch-nemesis by setting Jesse Eisenberg for the role.

Warner Bros. has announced that Eisenberg will play Luthor, which makes sense since both he and Cavill are 30 years old. In addition, Jeremy Irons has been brought on to play Bruce Wayne's loyal butler, Alfred. Both are great additions to surround Cavill and Ben Affleck with, although let's face it...nobody's going to beat Michael Caine as Alfred. Let's be honest here.

Anyway, this is a solid move in the right direction, and we know Eisenberg can make for an awesome douchebag when he needs to.

Batman vs. Superman opens May 6th 2016.

Read More

'Man of Steel 2' Rumors on Jason Momoa's Role, Wonder Woman, Arrow, and More

Filming on Man of Steel 2, frustratingly still referred to as Batman vs. Superman, should begin very soon, which means we will start getting answers to some long-held questions. While rumors continue to swirl, and have really picked up as of late, Batman On Film is one of the more reliable sources of information for anything involving the Dark Knight. One of their more authoritative voices is "Jett", and he answered a number of reader questions that could shed some new light on a few things. Here's a quick summary of what he revealed, courtesy of the guys over at CBM....

- Jason Mamoa will not be Martian Manhunter or Aquaman. Neither character is in the film.

- Wonder Woman could have “cameo plus” type role in the film, on par with what Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow did in Iron Man 2

- Expects the first look at Ben Affleck in early 2014 right around the time they will start filming in February.

- Has been told that the film is truly a Superman sequel and not a secret Justice League film like everyone suspects.

- Thinks that Arrow being included in the DC Movie Universe is wishful thinking.

- Believes we will get another Superman sequel without any other DC characters.

- Character wise he expects Batman to be, “ a healthy amount of Dark Knight Returns, a bit of Kingdom Come, and just a dash of Batman Beyond.”

- No Batman villains will be included.

- Doesn’t expect any shade of blue or tights for the Batsuit. More armor with Beyond and or Kingdom Come capabilities.

He also confirms Lex Luthor will be in the film, which we sort of already suspected, and that there is indeed another villain that he can't reveal just yet. Bets are on it being Doomsday or perhaps Darkseid, either of which could be played convincingly by Momoa.

It makes sense there would be some concern over too many characters crowding into what should be a Man of Steel sequel, but it sounds as if Warner Bros. is smart enough not to let Superman get lost in the shuffle. There are ways of introducing Wonder Woman, Flash, and whoever else make an appearance without veering too far off course into Justice League territory.

Nothing too revelatory but there's still some solid info in there. Man of Steel 2 arrives July 17th 2015.

Read More

Joaquin Phoenix Sought for Villain Role in 'Batman vs. Superman'

If there were a word to easily sum up Joaquin Phoenix's career, it'd be "unpredictable". We're talking about the same guy who took a year off and pretended to start a rap career, even going so far as to make a movie about it. Since he's returned he hasn't really stopped trying new things, and is currently gaining some Oscar heat for Spike Jonze's unconventional sci-fi/romance Her. But one thing Phoenix hasn't done is star in a superhero movie, although that could be about to change.

Phoenix is reportedly being sought for Zack Snyder's Man of Steel sequel, referred to as Batman vs. Superman. Variety says Warner Bros. wants him for the main villain role, which is expected to be Lex Luthor, although talks are extremely early and he may pass on it completely. It's not as if Phoenix has a history of taking blockbuster roles, and this would be one of the biggest in a crowded 2015 field. But it makes sense for the studio to seek out someone like Phoenix to play the top heel, as we've heard names like Jason Momoa and Callan Mulvey for the other bad guy part. Neither of those guys is a big enough name to sell tickets, but Phoenix has clout on the indie and mainstream circuit.

Look back on the highly idiosyncratic performances Phoenix has given in Her and The Master, and start thinking about what unique flourishes he could bring to Lex Luthor.  The Man of Steel sequel opens July 17th 2015.

Read More

Bryan Cranston Denies Lex Luthor Rumors

The Internet echo chamber spread like wildfire an unsourced story about Bryan Cranston being confirmed as Lex Luthor in the Man of Steel sequel. It was one of those stories that I only posted because so many emails had been sent to me asking why we weren't reporting it. So I did, and gave it the amount of snark and skepticism it so richly deserved. Those same sites that ran with the false story have since backtracked, but to throw a little more salt in the wound, Cranston recently spoke to Boston.com and shoots the rumor down once and for all.

For those who don't recall, one of the added details in the piece was that Cranston had signed for a total of six movies, making him an integral part of Warner Bros. superhero plans. Not that Cranston has heard of any of this...

Cranston: “Six? This is all news to me. I think that maybe my name is bandied about because I’m known to be bald. ‘What bald guy can we get?’ The reality is they can take any actor and shave his head or put a bald cap on him.” 

Of course, he could be pulling our legs, and technically he doesn't really deny anything but the six-picture deal, but he does seem to be writing himself out of the story. Assuming Cranston is indeed out, the only other option that has been put out there is Mark Strong, who recently hinted he may have an edge on the role.

We'll see what happens. Man of Steel 2, Superman vs. Batman, or whatever it will be titled is expected to open on July 17th 2015.

Read More

Mark Strong Hints at Lex Luthor Role in 'Superman vs. Batman'; Bryan Cranston Rumored

We never saw the bald head of Lex Luthor in Man of Steel, but there were enough LexCorp sightings to know that Superman's nemesis is in Metropolis somewhere. That's led many to expect that he'll turn up in the sequel, a Superman vs. Batman film announced at Comic-Con and inspired by Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. While most of the attention has been focused on who will play Bruce Wayne, rumors have begun to spring up about Lex Luthor, as well.

One of those rumors has involved Mark Strong, who has some familiarity with DC superhero movies having played Sinestro in Green Lantern. Digital Spy caught up with Strong and asked him about the possibility of playing Luthor, to which he replied...

 "All I can say is... watch this space."

It's possible he's having a bit of fun with the interviewer, because it's unlikely he'd risk getting the job by being quite so obvious. But there's no question that Strong, who has made a career of playing strong, commanding bad guys, would be a worthy addition to the cast and a great fit for Luthor. It would also go a long way in getting some distance from the Green Lantern film, confirming once and for all that it's not a part of the universe Zack Snyder is putting together. 

Meanwhile, Latino Review's El Mayimbe suggests that Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston is up for the Luthor part. Although anything that site says should be taken with a bucket of salt, it does make some sense considering Cranston's relationship with Warner Bros. on Argo and Godzilla. So it seems like a natural fit, but it's likely that a number of candidates are being considered. Filming is expected to begin early next year for release in the summer of 2015. 

Read More

Clues to 'Man of Steel 2' Plot--My Prediction

I can't believe I"m doing this....I truly hate talking about a sequel before the original has even officially hit theaters. That being said this is an itch I had to scratch...if for no other reason than for everyone out there to tell me what an idiot I am. My theory is after the break and is supported by, what I believe to be, more than coincidental evidence. Not to worry though, no spoilers for Man of Steel...everything I'll mention is stuff you've seen in the trailers.



As we know from what Zack Snyder's been saying over the past week Lex Luthor does factor into this version of the Superman legend, so we know he's going to pop up sometime in some manner. I kind of assumed he'd be more of a background menace in future films since, let's be honest, baldy is kind of played out at this point. He's really not though, the Lex that we've gotten on the big screen has always been the rich, opportunistic, megalomaniac who's sole threat to Superman has been his ability to get his hands on Kryptonite. He's never been a real physical threat...it's easy to see why using this angle again in Superman Returns failed in the heights of summer blockbuster season...there's no fist fight, we need that. We yearn to see the bad guy put down with a well placed right hook. Here's the thing those not familiar with the comics may not know...Lex is very similar to Tony Stark, LuthorCorp doesn't just manage real estate deals, they make more than a few dollars from military contracts. Also like Tony Stark, Lex developed a battle suit. Here's where the two differ, Lex was not out to save the world, he was out to put himself on a even playing field with the last son of Krypton when it came to fisticuffs. This Lex Luthor, the one that could out smart Superman AND give the audience a show, is the version I'm predicting to be the villain when Man of Steel 2 comes out. Here's why.

Watching the trailers there was something very familiar about the armor worn by Zod and his cronies, getting a better look while watching the film it dawned on me....they're wearing a Beta version Luthor battle suit. Here's a side by side comparison of the two:

The look is WAY to similar to be coincidence. Now, the suits didn't appear to give the Kryptonian's power but I'm willing to bet there will be something about the suits that Luthor can re-purpose to give himself superpower. Hell, maybe he just steals the design to piss Superman off, either way I'll bet you a  Kryptonian nickle that we finally get a Luthor worth seeing on screen in the next installment. 

Read More

Bradley Cooper not playing Lex Luthor in 'Man of Steel'

Not that there was ever any doubt, but the rumors of Bradley Cooper appearing as Lex Luthor in Man of Steel appear to be false. Or at least according to the Vancouver Sun's Kurt Orzeck....

Sorry, Bradley Cooper fans: There's no truth to the rumor that he'll be playing Lex Luthor in "Man of Steel."

Rest assured that Lex Luthor will appear in some capacity, though, even if it's only as a cameo. Hopefully he'll be piecing  together a truly devious scheme to destroy Superman(Henry Cavill) and not just trying to sell beach front property like in Superman Returns.

Read More

Rumor: Bradley Cooper to cameo as Lex Luthor in 'Man of Steel'?

In case you weren't sure, you simply can't have a Superman film without Lex Luthor in it somewhere. Or at least that's what you'd think, considering nobody wants to try. Batman doesn't always face The Joker, does he? Of course not, and Superman has more than enough heels in his rogue's gallery to occupy a few of his cinematic adventures. Sure, there was evil millionaire Ross Webster in Superman III, but he was basically Luthor in a different suit. When it  comes to Zack Snyder's Man of Steel, the villain has long since been confirmed to be General Zod(Michael Shannon), with precious little mention of Luthor turning up except in brief unsubstantiated rumors. Well add another one to the pile, as Cosmic Book News has received a tip stating that Bradley Cooper would be making a cameo as the bald-headed, exo-suit wearing megalomaniac.

The site notes that this all sprang up due to Cooper's open schedule thanks to the delays on Paradise Lost, but to me this sounds a little far fetched....

"We were told after Paradise Lost bottomed out, that Bradley Cooper will appear as Lex Luthor in a cameo role in the Man of Steel.

Back in April of 2011, we were provided information that the first draft of the script held a prominent role for Luthor, one that even saw Lex forcing the Kryptonians through a Phantom Zone portal using Kryptonite in the final battle. At the end of the movie, Lex considers forcing Superman through as well, but relents."

Take this with your usual helping of salt, folks. Chances are this will turn out to be less than nothing. I have no doubt that Luthor will appear in some capacity, just not played by Cooper. With Snyder stating that he wants things to go slightly different for his take on the Man of Steel, I wouldn't be surprised to see Luthor show up in a friendly capacity....at first. Then slowly be revealed as the true villain over the course of a few movies. 

Let's say it did happen, though. Would Cooper make for an effective Lex Luthor? Who would you rather see play Superman's arch enemy?  

Read More