Joaquin Phoenix Is Lex Luthor In Batman vs Superman Movie?

Is Joaquin Phoenix the new Lex Luthor? Variety reports tonight that the intense, eccentric and cerebral (all traits that would describe the perfect Luthor, no?) 39-year-old actor is being pursued by Warner Bros for a major role in Zack Snyder's Batman vs Superman blockbuster. Hold on to your hats folks but Variety say it's "likely" for the role of the sequel's main bad-guy, Lex Luthor. Similar to the casting of Ben Affleck as The Caped Crusader... Nobody and I repeat NOBODY... saw this coming. But unlike the internet backlash that has plagued Snyder's casting of Affleck over the past six months, the hiring of Phoenix as Lex Luthor is likely to be met with surprised excitement and jubilation. Sure, he won't have been every Batman fanboys's choice. He's not mine either... I had campaigned for Josh Brolin to play DC's smartest criminal mind. But the thought of Phoenix as Superman's nemesis is intriguing and enticing. Damnit, it might just be perfect. The man who played the sinister, cruel and tragic Commodus in Gladiator and who went toe-to-toe with Superman's father Jor-El... The man whose screen presence in Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master last year was off the charts... The man who has been the most interesting part of almost each and every film he has starred in... As Luthor? I'm sold. Phoenix's casting is still someway from being official and Variety are careful not to go so far as to mention there's even an offer out to the three time Oscar nominated actor yet. But if Warner Bros. and Snyder want him, I can't see Phoenix turning down the opportunity to put his unique stamp on a legendary character and follow in the foot-steps of previous Academy Award winners Kevin Spacey and Gene Hackman. What a comeback it would be for him after blowing everyone away last year with The Master, which we shouldn't forget was only his first film since his "extended break" from acting following his documentary I'm Still Here. Production on the Batman vs Superman movie begins early next year and will see the return of Man Of Steel's principal cast (Henry Cavill as Superman, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Laurence Fishburne as Perry White, Diane Lane as Ma Kent) along with Ben Affleck's Batman and Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman. Zack Snyder directs for a July 17th, 2015 release.