Cosmic Book News is claiming an exclusive that says director Zack Snyder wants British actor Mark Strong to play Luthor. Strong has prior comic book experience having played the villain in KICK-ASS as well as Sinestro in GREEN LANTERN. If Strong does get the part as Luthor, I would expect that to put the final nail in the coffin for Ryan Reynolds to play Hal Jordan in the JUSTICE LEAGUE movie.
Strong would make an excellent Luthor. While I have a childhood connection to Gene Hackman as Luthor, his take on the villain never felt like much of a threat to Superman. Strong is physically more imposing and has the ability to lose his **** in just the right way to make him seem threatening to even a superhero. I would fully back this casting if it turns out to be true.
When I think of Lex Luthor, I think of Gene Hackman, but I have to say that Kevin Spacey was by far a better Lex Luthor. Still, from what very little I know of Mark Strong, he could be an excellent Luthor. And I sure hope Man of Steel 2 will be a better film than the first…