Fans of Superman know that Lex Luthor is one of his greatest enemies and this villain's story has taken many turns!
Lex Luthor in the DCEU:
Lex Luthor was given an interesting take in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), which was certainly not what some fans were hoping for. Jesse Eisenberg was given the challenge of portraying the villain and while he showed off the traits fans know so well, a quirky awkward side to the main villain and gave his own interpretation, it appears that many didn't really like his character!
The DCEU took some creative liberties and made Lex Luthor very unhinged and odd in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and despite showing a bit more of the comic version in later films, many thought this was quite jarring and odd! He may have been a main antagonist but the role ultimately did not give fans the impression of his full capacity for being a formidable threat.
A New Version of Lex Luthor:
The television show, Superman & Lois, gives a brand new perspective and take on the legendary supervillain! A lot of audiences and fans are happy to have a more traditional approach with some impressive updates, making this truly an interesting twist on a well-loved classic. It might have only been one season of Superman & Lois. It already gave Lex Luthor more depth and a grittier, fiercer performance from Michael Cudlitz, adding something entirely unique and giving viewers more than they could imagine from one television series.
Fans might argue it is even better than what the DCEU tried to do!
Comparing the Two Versions:
Both versions of Lex Luthor show incredible criminal mastery and manipulation, but each had a distinctly unique approach. In the DCEU, Eisenberg gave a rather unhinged personality for the villain while Cudlitz brought forth some fierceness to his role which seemed far more realistic given that he has been incarcerated for 17 years!
Critics of the DCEU's Lex Luthor version now are happy and even hope this approach will be a part of future installments. It was noted how much more fitting the Superman & Lois version was.
The Controversy:
While Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor brought plenty of unique characteristics, such as being very quirky and awkward, that the comic fans liked, it didn’t hit the mark as expected by many. His portrayal in Dawn of Justice is a source of major debate, where some fans were completely unhappy, claiming that Eisenberg lacked the needed gravitas and presence as the iconic Superman nemesis, while others said that some other aspects felt true to the comic version and the origins.
Fans will argue that the DCEU's version of the iconic villain should have followed a different trajectory that might have reflected some elements from Cudlitz' Superman & Lois appearance. However, Eisenberg made appearances later in the DCEU films, Justice League (2017) and Zack Snyder’s Justice League. However, neither version allowed for the potential of that unique role.
Why Cudlitz's Version Was Better:
Fans agree, Cudlitz did an excellent job. It looks like the creators were finally able to give fans what they always wanted!
There's a significant difference! While Cudlitz didn't give the lighthearted or quirky personality as Eisenberg, instead focusing on the intense power of the iconic character and giving a dark and serious personality to Lex Luthor.
It might have had something to do with where he got that powerful intensity. The 17 years he spent behind bars gave that edge and helped add that impressive, frightening aspect that he brought to this amazing villain.
The Zack Snyder movies in the DCEU went for an intense take on classic DC characters! For these fans, it was quite obvious that a new version, inspired from the approach of Michael Cudlitz, really fit and provided a compelling and satisfying performance. Michael Cudlitz's approach ultimately gave fans what many have been wanting for quite some time- the terrifying, dark villain that has left so many wondering what will happen to Superman next.
