Enjoyable truth: my default Halloween costume has at all times been Lex Luthor. As a proudly bald man with a number of spiffy fits, it’s a simple position to drag off yearly—although I’ll typically combine it up and go as Agent 47 from the Hitman online game. Due to this, I’ve at all times felt a sure kinship with “the greatest criminal mind of our time”… even if you happen to’d by no means realize it from watching most film variations. That’s proper—Lex Luthor on the large display has at all times sort of sucked.
On TV, nevertheless, they nailed him. Michael Rosenbaum delivered the definitive portrayal on Smallville. However in movies? Nobody has really matched the potential of the character. Let’s check out every big-screen model.
Gene Hackman
I’ll begin by saying I’ve nothing however respect for Gene Hackman as an actor—he may even be the best actor of his technology. However for my part, he’s not an ideal Lex Luthor.
Within the Richard Donner movies (and Tom Mankiewicz’s scripts), Hackman’s Luthor is a buffoon—too comical to be taken significantly. He’s slimy, sure, however by no means plausible as a strong Metropolis citizen. As a substitute, he’s a recluse surrounded by cartoonish sidekicks, like Ned Beatty’s Otis—a personality so grating he looks like he wandered in from a Nineteen Seventies Burt Reynolds comedy. That’s no slight on Beatty—he was unbelievable in Deliverance, Community, and extra—however right here, Donner turns him and Hackman right into a kind of Laurel and Hardy act.
Miss Teschmacher doesn’t fare significantly better. She betrays Luthor within the climax of the primary movie, solely to inexplicably be again at his facet within the sequel—regardless that, in deleted scenes, he actually tries to feed her to the lions.
Then there’s the hair challenge. Within the movies, Luthor is meant to be useless and put on a toupee, however Hackman merely wears his personal thinning hair for many of the runtime. He refused to shave his head, so the result’s… odd. He’s balding within the film, wears a bald cap just for the finale of Superman and the opening of Superman II, and by no means totally embraces the long-lasting look.
As for Superman IV? The much less stated, the higher—although I’ll admit Hackman is a minimum of enjoyable to observe there. Paradoxically, his sidekick in that movie, Jon Cryer, would go on to ship a much better Lex a long time afterward the CW.
Kevin Spacey
When Kevin Spacey was introduced as Luthor in Superman Returns, I used to be excited. I figured he’d carry a extra severe edge to the position than Hackman—and he does… to an extent. Sadly, the movie is slavishly dedicated to Donner’s continuity, which means Spacey is enjoying the identical Luthor as Hackman.
Meaning we’re again to a different actual property rip-off plot. Spacey does inject extra menace, particularly within the scene the place he brutalizes Superman throughout the climax, however general, it’s nonetheless a so-so interpretation of the character.
Jesse Eisenberg
Now right here’s a controversial one. For starters—he has hair. A lot of it. Zack Snyder clearly wished to reimagine Luthor as a tech mogul within the Mark Zuckerberg mould—proper right down to hiring the actor who performed Zuckerberg.
Many individuals despised the efficiency, however I’ll give Eisenberg this: he really made me consider Luthor had actual affect in Metropolis. Batman v Superman was meant to be simply his introduction, with later movies displaying him bald and extra restrained. As a substitute, we bought a single, over-the-top, theatrical flip that by no means actually landed.
Nicholas Hoult
Of all of the big-screen Luthors, Hoult comes the closest to getting it proper. He has the poise and mind to promote the concept Luthor may sway public opinion in opposition to Superman, however he additionally performs him as a whole psychopath—relishing destruction with wide-eyed glee.
One significantly twisted element: he imprisons all of his ex-girlfriends in alternate dimensions. It’s a darkish, well timed soak up an period of heightened consciousness about poisonous masculinity. Nonetheless, I’m undecided this is the Lex Luthor we’ve been ready for.
Why Michael Rosenbaum Worked
Right here’s why Rosenbaum is my choose for the definitive Lex Luthor.
First, the person seems to be incredible bald—really, a one-in-a-million head form. Watching him now on his podcast, I can’t assist however suppose he ought to shave it once more and reclaim the position.
Extra importantly, Smallville gave him a wealthy character arc. Over the seasons, he evolves from Clark Kent’s pal into his adversary, typically working in ethical gray areas slightly than cartoonish villainy. He’s poised, subtle, and plausible as somebody who might be an actual political or company energy participant. You may completely make a Superman film the place Lex turns into President of america, and with Rosenbaum, it might work.
The present even units that up as his eventual future. Actually, the films ought to have introduced Rosenbaum again, Smallville continuity or not. In any case, James Gunn himself has referred to as him the very best Lex—so why didn’t it occur?
