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

2. His Hatred Of Superman

Gene Hackman was a serviceable Luthor in three Superman films, despite a few campy flaws, and his portrayal was superior to Kevin Spacey's later incarnation in almost every way. The one thing that Spacey had and Hackman mostly lacked, though, was a deep-rooted antipathy for the Man of Steel. Whether it comes from envy or jealousy or from something else, Luthor's disdain for the Last Son Of Krypton should not be overlooked in Batman vs. Superman. The motivations are important, and they are numerous throughout the comics and the animated versions of the character: in the Golden Age, Lex hated Superman simply because he accidentally caused his hair to burn off. Later, his inability to control or put a price on the Man Of Steel led to contempt and detestation. It would be more interesting for Eisenberg's Luthor to hate Superman simply for being an alien, for being proclaimed a hero and a saviour by the human citizens of the world while Lex himself plays second fiddle. This would fit with the exploration of "being human" in Man Of Steel, furthering Kal-El's quest to be counted as one of the people of Earth. Lex could see this super-powered being as the end of human achievement or as an obstacle in human evolution. Whatever motivation the writers ultimately give us, it will be up to Eisenberg to convey a multiplicity of roots for his unshakable hate.