Jesse Eisenberg is Lex Luthor in 'Batman vs. Superman,' Movie Delayed Until 2016

By Daniel Distant, Christian Post Reporter Friday, January 31, 2014

Jesse Eisenberg is Lex Luthor in the upcoming "Man of Steel 2" movie, tentatively referred to as "Batman vs. Superman." Along with the seemingly out-of-character casting of Eisenberg— he's best known as Mark Zuckerberg in "The Social Network"— is British actor Jeremy Irons, who will be playing Alfred.

Eisenberg's role of Luthor was announced Friday the release date was also pushed back from July of 2015 to May of 2016, according to Greg Silverman, the President of Creative Development and Worldwide Production and Sue Kroll, President of Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution for Warner Bros.

"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," Zack Snyder, who directed the first "Man of Steel" film, explained. "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," the director added.

Jesse Eisenberg's casting as Superman rival and Luthorcorp CEO Lex Luthor comes as somewhat of a surprise: most envisioned the calculating businessman as an older gentleman, possibly more cold and refined, and of course, bald. Eisenberg is usually thought of as none of those things, but has earned an Oscar for his role on "The Social Network" as has a great fan base from movies like "Zombieland."

Jeremy Irons, on the other hand, is an established actor, appearing in many films like "The Man in the Iron Mask," "Reversal of Fortune" and also acted on TV shows like "Elizabeth I," "The Hollow Crown" and "The Borgias," with numerous awards to match. It's clear the kind of talent and ability he will be bringing to Batman's (Ben Affleck) side.

"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," Snyder said. "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 façade that encapsulates Bruce Wayne."