Why Jesse Eisenberg Could Be A Great Lex Luthor

Lex Luthor in the New 52

If you were wondering why the internet suddenly broke yesterday, it's probably because Jesse Eisenberg was cast as Lex Luthor in the upcoming sequel to Man of Steel. Nerds everywhere lost their minds and proceeded to comment how this casting was "worse than Hitler". Why, you ask? Because the internet. But despite all the instant outrage, and sadness over the fact that Joaquin Phoenix passed on the role and that everyone wanted Bryan Cranston because he's great at being a bald villain, Eisenberg is an inspired, original choice that could be great.

He will be ridiculed above all else, because everyone loves a good villain. That's why people are about to overlook problems in films such as The Dark Knight and The Avengers, because Heath Ledger and Tom Hiddleston are fantastic. But when they were cast, there was a sense of "Really? That guy?" to that announcement. The same reaction that people feel right now with Eisenberg. So I figured to help put the nerd community at ease (a community I am unabashedly a member of), we could take a look at why Jesse Eisenberg could be a great Lex. Here's a quick bio on Lex Luthor:

"Lex Luthor typically appears in comic books and other media as a bald business magnate with immense wealth and corporate power. However, Luthor was originally depicted as a mad scientist who, in the vein of pulp novels, wreaks havoc on the world with his futuristic weaponry. The character was later remodeled as a magnate and industrialist. In his earliest appearances, Luthor is shown with a full head of red hair. Despite this, the character later became hairless as the result of an artist's mistake. A 1960 story by Jerry Siegel expanded upon Luthor's origin and motivations, revealing him to be a childhood friend of Superman's who lost his hair when a fire destroyed his laboratory, a fire which Luthor blamed on Superboy, who was attempting to save Luthor from a lifeform Luthor had created in vitro that was threatening to kill Luthor."

His Body of Work

The Social Network

If you decide to base your opinion of Eisenberg solely on how he looks, they you'll easily be disappointed at the fact that he's Lex. But the beauty is that Lex doesn't need to be a physical specimen. He's a cocky genius, who believes that superheroes hinder the progress of humanity, and that he is the savior of mankind. Who better to do that than the guy who played Mark Zuckerberg? Having Eisenberg opposite the physically imposing Henry Cavill will be a nice contrast, because it will show how intelligent Luthor is; he is able to figure out Superman's weakness without the need to fight him. Having Lex be an egotistical CEO of Lexcorp, who is set on proving he is superior is right in Eisenberg's wheelhouse.

"Having Eisenberg opposite the physically imposing Henry Cavill will be a nice contrast, because it will show how intelligent Luthor is; he is able to figure out Superman's weakness without the need to fight him."

His performance in The Social Network is, obviously, going to be referenced the most in conjunction with this role, because why wouldn't it? The parallels between Mark Zuckerberg and where DC could go with Lex are obvious. What people seem to forget when discussing this, however, is just how good Eisenberg was. The fact that you were able to like, empathize, understand, and despise him all at once, is a testament to a multi-layered performance that seems to lay the groundwork for exactly what is needed for Lex. And I know you're gonna say that it was a lot of fast talking and his typical style, but you watch some of those deposition scenes and tell me he doesn't give a great performance. It also doesn't hurt that he's an Oscar nominated actor. They don't just hand out those nominations. Well, they do, but only if your last name is Streep.

But there are other performances that help to enforce my belief that Eisenberg could be the right choice. Films such as The Squid and The Whale, The Hunting Party and Now You See Me showcase a range of performances that really show you that Eisenberg is way more than just that guy you sometimes confuse with Michael Cera. In The Squid and The Whale, Eisenberg plays the son of a self-centered writer (played by the always amazing Jeff Daniels), who develops the same ego and tendencies as his father. It's a supporting performance that shows a level of perversion in his own triumphs, and a seething anger that lies right below the surface. In The Hunting Party, he holds his own opposite Richard Gere and Terrence Howard, as translates his frantic nature to a strong dramatic performance, and is the heart of the film. And in Now You See Me, despite the quality of the film, he plays against type and is believable in his egocentric manner.

The Squid and The Whale

Sometimes Big Names Aren't The Best

Michael Shannon as General Zod in Man of Steel

It seems like a lot of people are torn up about the fact that they think Bryan Cranston would have been the perfect Lex. And you know what? He probably could have been pretty damn good. But even Cranston has said that the only reason people are even talking about him is because of Breaking Bad, and it's something he seems like he doesn't want to get typecast into. Sometimes the most obvious choice isn't the best.

This brings me to the casting of my favourite villains. Characters such as The Joker, Loki, Ras Al Ghul, Scarecrow, and Two-Face have all succeeded because of the actors playing them, and the way they were written. Before Batman Begins, Liam Neeson was not considered an action star, and was certainly considered a surprising choice for Batman's mentor. But then we saw the movie, and he was perfect. The same goes for the Scarecrow, who is a difficult villain to ground into reality. An actor such as Aaron Eckhart is one that would probably make people cringe, as he was typically considered a rom-com lead or average supporting actor, but found the pathos and humanity within Harvey Dent and his fall. 

"The thing that kept Iron Man from being truly great, to me, was the fact that Jeff Bridges just wasn't right for the role. Same with Micky Rourke and Michael Shannon for theirs. Not a knock against the actors, but the fact that they felt miscast, despite being prominent actors, speaks to smartness of picking someone nobody expects."

Then you come to the The Joker and Loki, who are two of the best villains around, but because the casting worked. When you allow an actor to have his or her way with a character, they can do amazing things. There's a reason that guys like Heath Ledger and Tom Hiddleston will be remembered as amazing villains, whereas the obvious and big named choices such as Jeff Bridges, Mickey Rourke, Michael Shannon, Hugo Weaving and Guy Pierce didn't seem to work. Yeah, we can chalk it upto the script not working, since some of the actors were good in their roles, but it's also their job to captivate us, which a lot didn't. Anyone remember, or give a shit, why Red Skull or Whiplash were doing whatever they were doing? No?

The thing that kept Iron Man from being truly great, to me, was the fact that Jeff Bridges just wasn't right for the role. Same with Micky Rourke and Michael Shannon for theirs. Not a knock against the actors, but the fact that they felt miscast, despite being prominent actors, speaks to smartness of picking someone nobody expects. Whether that will work for Ben Affleck as Batman is yet to be seen, but at least let him try. If it isn't good, then so what? You're still gonna pay to see the movie, and the quality of the film doesn't directly or indirectly affect how you continue to live your life. And if it does, please contact a health care professional.

Heath Ledger as The Joker in The Dark Knight

We Don't Know Anything About the Script

The Hunting Party

"The reason I'm giving this a chance is because, despite how many comics I've read and how big a fan I am, thing casting is exciting."

The main thing that people seem to complain about is that Eisenberg isn't right for Luthor because it's not what they think will work. But lest we forget, none of us have actually seen the script, nor know what is in store for the film. For all we know, Lex could play a minor role, and be set up bigger for later, or perhaps it's a one-off. Who knows? The point is that the only people who know what's currently right for the film are the people making the fucking film. Not the internet, because truthfully, people on the internet can be truly moronic. The reason I'm giving this a chance is because, despite how many comics I've read and how big a fan I am, thing casting is exciting. It's not obvious, and that's what makes me curious and excited about the film. I can't judge it because I have no idea what's in store for me, and until I see some pictures or a trailer, I can't tell you what's in store. All I know is the two year wait till this movie comes out is a long one. Oh, and also Eisenberg does kinda need to be bald.

Doesn't look all that bad being bald