Officiall: Jesse Eisenberg Will Be Lex Luthor in 'Batman vs. Superman'

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Out of nowhere this afternoon, Warner Bros. Pictures has announced two new cast members for the recently delayed 2016 release of Batman vs. Superman, or whatever the sequel to last summer's Man of Steel will be called, and they are surprising to say the least. First off, The Social Network and The Double star Jessie Eisenberg has been set to play Superman's arch nemesis Lex Luthor and Die Hard with a Vengeance bad guy Jeremy Irons has been slated to play Bruce Wayne's trusty butler Alfred in the film from director Zack Snyder. These casting choices are out of left field, and neither name has been rumored for either role.

As for Lex Luthor's casting, Snyder made this statement:
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. 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. 
Meanwhile, for the casting of Ben Affleck's Batman mentor, the director says:
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. 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.
Eisenberg and Irons are certainly surprising additions to a cast that includes Henry Cavill returning as Superman and Ben Affleck as an old, grizzled Batman. In addition, Gal Gadot of the Fast & Furious franchise will pay Wonder Woman (aka Diana Prince) and Man of Steel stars Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane will all be back as well. Eisenberg has the potential to make a great Lex Luthor when you consider his cold personality in The Social Network and Jeremy Irons is great in anything. With the delay of the film to May 6th, 2016, we're wondering if the rumors of shooting this Man of Steel sequel and a Justice League follow-up back-to-back are true, but hopefully we'll find out soon enough. Thoughts?


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