Jesse Eisenberg and Jeremy Irons Cast In 'Batman vs. Superman'
Batman vs. Superman is still nearly two years away, but the casting announcements are rolling in! And two HUGE names have been added to the lineup: one Academy Award nominee, and one winner!
Jesse Eisenberg, a former Best Actor nominee for The Social Network, is joining the Man of Steel sequel in the role of Lex Luthor.
“Lex Luthor is often considered the most notorious of Superman’s rivals, his unsavory reputation preceding him since 1940,” director Zack Snyder said in a statement. “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.”
Credit: NBC
Meanwhile, Best Actor winner Jeremy Irons (Reversal of Fortune), has been cast in the role of Alfred Pennyworth, the butler and father figure to Bruce Wayne/Batman (Ben Affleck).
There remain no details on the script just yet, but the film is primarily expected to be a Superman picture, given it's a sequel to Man of Steel. So we probably shouldn't expect any Batman villains to join the fray. But the confirmation of Lex Luthor's presence finally puts to bed what feels like an eternity of casting rumors.
The sequel to Man of Steel, featuring Henry Cavill returning as Superman along with Amy Adams as Lois Lane, and Gal Gadot making her debut as Wonder Woman, hits theaters on May 6, 2016.
Credit: Columbia Pictures