Jesse Eisenberg’s BvS reaction proves he never understood Lex Luthor
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Speaking about the reaction to his performance as Lex Luthor, Jesse Eisenberg proved why he was the wrong choice for the DCEU villain.
Jesse Eisenberg’s reaction to the backlash against his version of Lex Luthor in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice proves he was never suited to play the iconic villain. Zack Snyder’s sequel to Man of Steel was the controversial Batman v Superman , the director’s second DCEU effort pitting two of DC’s most iconic heroes against each other. One of Snyder’s boldest decisions was casting Jesse Eisenberg as Superman’s nemesis Lex Luthor, and it became one of the most hated parts of a truly divisive film.
Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor was a completely strange take on the iconic villain. Jesse Eisenberg brought a particularly frenetic energy to the character that Luthor doesn’t usually possess, making his intellectually brilliant but morally bankrupt version of the character an authentic but ultimately unfaithful iteration of the villain. Eisenberg’s efforts were not appreciated, with many believing that his quirky take on Luthor was closer to Mark Zuckerberg than any Superman villain.
In an interview with Deadline , Eisenberg discussed Lex Luthor’s reaction, and his response further proves why he should never have been cast. Eisenberg explained that he and the film’s writer, Chris Terrio, “thought a lot about the character” and considered “his past with his father and his emotional life,” concluding by adding that “then people hate it.”[d] I. Eisenberg disputes the backlash against her performance, justifying the odd choices made about the character by explaining that they were carefully considered. However, Eisenberg’s blatant dismissal of the issues with his performance shows that he doesn’t understand the importance and iconic nature of the character, and shows exactly why he’s a poor choice to play the main villain of the DCEU.
Eisenberg’s Luthor Changes Are Not Necessary (Though He Doesn’t Think So)
Eisenberg’s public defense of the Lex Luthor version proves how little the public understands the passion for Superman and his supporting characters. He even admitted that he’s “not a fan of comic books” and that the superhero genre “isn’t a huge genre.” [his] Since DCEU Superman actor Henry Cavill is well known for respecting the source material in his roles, this makes Eisenberg the polar opposite of his on-screen nemesis. The role of such an iconic villain deserves an actor who understands the importance of the character, but Eisenberg seems apathetic, and that points to a larger problem with his performance.
While Lex Luthor was essential to Snyder’s DCEU plan, Terrio and Eisenberg took creative liberties with the character, subverting Superman’s iconic villain. Eisenberg’s willingness to play such a heavily reworked version of Luthor comes from a lack of respect for the character’s importance, and his relative indifference to the backlash further proves that he should never be seen as a good Lex Luthor. The result was an inaccurate and downright weird take on a villain that failed to hold the audience’s attention, largely because the character’s frenzied energy didn’t capture the essence of Lex Luthor.
Eisenberg has apparently expressed displeasure with the backlash from his Batman v Superman performance, but has previously stated that he would return to the DCEU if asked. However, he realizes that may not be possible after Snyder’s exit from the franchise. Jesse Eisenberg returning to the DCEU as Lex Luthor doesn’t seem to be in the cards, and that’s actually a good thing, since his version of the character introduced in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice went down the drain. .
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