2. Affleck As Batman Could Mean Bryan Cranston As Luthor
Follow me on this: Bryan Cranston has recently shown interest in playing Lex Luthor. Bryan Cranston has recently finished filming a television show that will be remembered for decades. Bryan Cranston recently starred in a film with Ben Affleck. That same film won an Oscar for Best Picture. That same film was distributed by Warner Brothers. Ben Affleck was just cast as Batman in a Batman/Superman film to be released by Warner Brothers. You realize what all this means? Mark Strong is obviously a lock to play Lex Luthor. Or, you know, maybe, just maybe, we've got a real shot here at Walter White himself taking on another bald, larger-than-life character. I mean, honestly, how could anyone object to a character actor with the charisma of Cranston taking on one of the most charismatic characters in all of comics (there's a lot of alliteration in this section, I'll admit)? Personally, for the part of Luthor, I would want a guy who can play layers. I don't want a "super-villain" Lex Luthor who exudes evil. I also don't want a half-buffoon as we've seen previously. I want a Luthor with depth. I also want a Luthor who can entertain. Bryan Cranston is capable of doing both of those things in spades. There might be some who think that this part is too close to his role on Breaking Bad, but I don't think they could be more different. Walter White is a desperate man, trying to be the man that Luthor is naturally. One can't compare the suburban, morality tale of Breaking Bad to the global, sci-fi world of Superman. Not that one is inherently better than the other, but they are different beasts entirely and rooting against Cranston for the role based on the comparison does as much a disservice to his acting abilities as rooting against Affleck ignores the great work he's done. I'm not saying that Affleck as Batman necessitates that Cranston will be Luthor, but if casting Affleck gets us a little closer to a three-time Emmy-winner as Luthor, I'd say that's a tally in the "pro" side of the Affleck-as-Batman argument as much as anything is.