Batman Vs Superman: 7 Essential Lex Luthor Details Eisenberg Must Channel

6. Connections

Kevin Spacey's Lex Luthor was a man recently freed from his constitutional obligations by a technicality, and so the public trust in him may have been at an all-time low during the events of Superman Returns. This idea certainly isn't unfounded, as there are many arcs in the comics that feature Lex's philanthropic façade cast into shadow - his knowledge of the Imperiex invasion marred his presidency when the public found out, his involvement with the Everyman Project forced him to stand trial for the umpteenth time, etc. etc. Obviously, though, these arcs will (or should, anyway) have little impact on the introduction of Luthor in the DC Cinematic Universe. Spacey's time as Luthor saw him lurking underground and aboard yachts with only his henchmen and Ms. Tessmacher to talk to, and it made for an utterly forgettable turn, as well as giving his sidekick all too much screen time. More importantly, though, it seemed at odds with the well-connected, friends-in-high-places magnate presented in 90% of Luthor appearances in the comics. Even Gene Hackman hardly left the company of Ned "Yes Mister Lew-thor" Beatty. As is the case with many entires here, Eisenberg is at the mercy of the Batman vs. Superman script. Not entirely, of course - it's still the job of the actor to carry all of this for the final leg of the relay - but Spacey's one-note Luthor was partially an effect of a weak script. If we're talking the first of multiple appearances by Eisenberg as this character, we need to see the dichotomous Lex that engages in shameless politicking and public laudation of the heroes of the Justice League - the daylight Lex - alongside the scheming, nefarious egomaniac who plots behind closed doors to defeat those same heroes - the Lex of the shadows.