I'm Convinced Fans Are Wrong About This Controversial DCEU Villain Performance (Including the Actor) (2025)

When it comes to adaptations of Superman, fans are very choosy about which ones they like best. However, the same is true of Lex Luthor, the Man of Steel's main nemesis in comics, animation and live action adaptations. There have been actors who brought this role to life, but nearly a decade after his first appearance, I'm convinced most critics are wrong about Lex Luthor as realized by Jesse Eisenberg in the DC Extended Universe of films. For characters in their ninth decade of storytelling, there is no "right" or "wrong" choice for someone's favorite iteration.

As Superman and Lex Luthor evolved with the times, it's equally up for debate how "accurate" one portrayal or another can be. DC Comics' characters are also not immune to controversial casting choices, either. After all, despite now being beloved, Micheal Keaton's Batman earned angry reactions from fans. While I understood the controversy around Man of Steel, I enjoyed that take on the Superman story. Still, upon hearing the news that Jesse Eisenberg had been cast as Lex Luthor for Zack Snyder's follow-up, I was unconvinced to say the least. With three new Lex Luthor actors in live-action since, however, I realized that Eisenberg's take honored all aspects of the character despite the unconventional performance choices.

Lex Luthor Has Evolved Over Eight Decades as Much as Superman

Originally a Mad Scientist, His Corporate Tycoon Version Is a Newer Invention

The character of Lex Luthor has changed drastically from the Golden to Modern Ages of comic books. Originally, known only as "Luthor," the bald-headed baddie was a typical mad scientist type who frequently "died" after facing off with Superman in the Golden Age. The Silver Age gave Lex his first name and a new history with time spent in Smallville as a fan of Superboy. It wasn't until John Byrne's Man of Steel reboot after 1985's Crisis On Infinite Earths that Lex Luthor as a corporate tycoon became the definitive characterization.

As a child of the 1980s myself, I'm biased, but I think Byrne's re-imagining is the best update Lex Luthor received. While shades of his scientific background were later reintroduced, Luthor as an unrepentant capitalist with nothing remarkable in his character is brilliant. He is diametrically opposed to Superman, who is remarkable in every way, yet chooses to freely serve and help with no benefit to himself. It wasn't until Eisenberg's casting that this version of Luthor truly came to live-action.

Of course, one need not look to comics in the 1980s for villainous characters steeped in Reagan-era capitalist philosophy. After 30 years of "Gordon Gekko" type characters in film and television, a straightforward adaptation of Byrne's Luthor in Sndyer's film would've been trite. Rather, casting Eisenberg as a zany, tech-bro strikes me as an authentic evolution of that archetype. Even better, as the film shows, this version of Luthor was the kind of villain that people entrenched in institutional power structures would underestimate and overlook.

Gene Hackman's Lex Can Be Found in Jesse Eisenberg's Performance

Both Villains Had Comedic Elements, but Eisenberg's Was a Sincere Threat

Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor was unique in both pre- and post-Crisis adaptations of the character. A man who never met a real estate scam he didn't like, the "greatest criminal mind of our time" was mostly a comedic foil to Superman. Especially when compared to Zod in Superman II, Lex Luthor wasn't really the kind of threat who could conceivably take out the Man of Steel. The same is not exactly true for Eisenberg's Lex, but his performance does evoke this interpretation as well.

"I’ve never said this before, and it’s kind of embarrassing to admit, but I genuinely think it actually hurt my career in a real way, because I was poorly received in something so public." -- Jesse Eisenberg in an interview.

Eisenberg's Lex was clearly meant to be comedic in his own way, from the infamous introduction of Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne to his conversations with Senator Finch. Yet, unlike Hackman, Eisenberg's Lex used this as a kind of mask. For me, the most diabolical Lex Luthor moment in live-action is when he feeds that poor government sap a cherry Jolly Rancher, putting his fingertip right into his mouth. Looking back, it's a brilliantly devious take on Lex Luthor.

There were also shades of Lex Luthor's scientific past in Eisenberg's character, too. Specifically, he was able to discern how to use the alien technology in the Kryptonian ship. The creation of Doomsday and the strange confab with Steppenwolf seen in the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice director's cut are proof of this. While being a ruthless corporate tycoon, this Lex was also scientifically adept enough that he posed a genuine threat both to Superman and the world.

How Michael Rosenbaum Redefined the Corporate Lex Luthor

Smallville Split Lex and Lionel's Characteristics, and Eisenberg's Lex Also Had Daddy Issues

In fairness, Smallville's take on Lex Luthor was slightly inspired by the Byrne update in the Man of Steel comics. Yet, Michael Rosenbaum's Lex was sympathetic in a way the comics' version wasn't. In fact, John Glover's Lionel Luthor was closer to the comics' Lex as a confidently ruthless corporate leader and strategic villain. The arcs in that series were more about Lex desperately trying to avoid becoming his father. Eisenberg's take on the character also featured elements of this version of the character.

• Lionel Luthor had many of the more ruthless aspects of John Byrne's Lex, and the "clone" Lex's long hair.
• Rosenbaum's Lex tried to fight his destiny and was rejected by many of his friends for not overcoming it.
• The DCEU's Lex Luthor had issues with his father, but it was left to dialogue rather than shown.

His introductory scenes hinted at his tumultuous childhood relationship with his father, who named LexCorp after himself. Eisenberg's character said he claimed otherwise while fundraising, encouraging his investors to "write checks for Lex," meaning his young son. He also told Superman that no hero saved him "from daddy's fists and abominations." It seems that Lionel Luthor was father of the year compared to the DCEU's Lex Luthor Sr.

Of course, the problem with this is that Smallville viewers had over 200 episodes through which to see Lex Luthor's father issues take shape. Eisenberg's character had significantly less narrative space to establish this, thus it was left to dialogue and implication. Rosenbaum's character was understated and tortured, evolving with time. Like the rest of the DCEU, Eisenberg's Lex had to be established at a manic, breakneck pace and, thus, much of that nuance was lost.

Zack Snyder's Lex Luthor Was a Victim of Lack of Setup

Eisenberg's Lex Had to Do Too Much With Little Foreshadowing

Like most fans, I initially balked at the version of Lex Luthor the DCEU showed viewers. It was only upon reflection that I noticed how elements of all the best versions of the character were weaved into his Lex Luthor. Eisenberg's performance is unfairly criticized, as he slowly evolves the characters' mania from a zany mask to hide his true intentions to genuine instability. Like everything else in Snyder's universe, Lex simply needed more time and story to bring reluctant fans around. Instead, his plan pitting Batman and Superman against each other seemed contrived and "too clever by half."

Perhaps the biggest question left unanswered in Dawn of Justice is precisely how Lex Luthor figured out the identities of Batman and Superman. Similarly, Luthor's goal is left vague beyond simply hoping to tear down the public's view of these heroes. Of course, Batman's tactics in the film show he's already lost some of his heroic luster, and the debate over the public's view of Superman is a major thread in the film. Perhaps the filmmakers wanted the audience to ponder these questions, but disappointed fans simply felt these narrative gaps were just more of the film's shortcomings.

Now that the DCEU is a memory, I find myself echoing Thanos in Avengers: Endgame and wondering if we didn't all treat Eisenberg's Lex Luthor too harshly. It's an authentically updated version of the character Byrne created in 1986. The performance calls back to other great live-action Lex portrayals, from Hackman to Rosenbaum. Eisenberg effectively portrays Lex as the kind of guy who doesn't seem like a threat but is, actually, incredibly dangerous. Whatever problems Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice may have that the director's cut doesn't fix, Lex Luthor isn't really one of them.

Both editions of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League are available to own on DVD, Blu-ray, digital and currently stream on Max.

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10

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Sci-Fi

Batman is manipulated by Lex Luthor to fear Superman. Superman's existence is meanwhile dividing the world, and he is framed for murder during an international crisis. The heroes clash and force the neutral Wonder Woman to reemerge.

Director

Zack Snyder

Release Date

March 24, 2016

Studio(s)

DC, Warner Bros. Pictures