# Bryan Cranston reportedly cast as Lex Luthor in the upcoming Superman-Batman pic? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 24, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bryan-cranston-reportedly-cast-as-lex-luthor-in-the-upcoming-superman-batman-pic/667062 "2013-08-24T15:54:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bryan-cranston-reportedly-cast-as-lex-luthor-in-the-upcoming-superman-batman-pic/667062/1 "2013-08-24T15:54:58Z")
[True story!](http://metro.co.uk/2013/08/24/bryan-cranston-confirmed-to-play-lex-luthor-in-batmanman-of-steel-3936111/) > [@](#): > > Bryan Cranston has reportedly been cast as Lex Luthor in the Batman/Superman team-up sequel to Man of Steel. > > The Breaking Bad star is said to have signed up to play Superman’s long-time nemesis for a minimum of six films which could extend to ten. > > An official announcement of Cranston’s casting will apparently be scheduled for after Breaking Bad finishes in order for the news to ride the wave of the finale, say Cosmic Book News. > > A source told the website: ‘Cranston truly is a dream casting for Luthor’. > > Bryan will be joining a cast which includes Henry Cavill as Superman, and Ben Affleck who was revealed to have been cast as Batman this week. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bryan-cranston-reportedly-cast-as-lex-luthor-in-the-upcoming-superman-batman-pic/667062/2 "2013-08-24T16:28:37Z")
Are we sure he has what it takes to play a bald scientist/criminal-mastermind? (Gene Hackman/Kevin Spacey playing the lead villain for laughs was the worst thing about the Cristopher Reeves movies though, so hopefully Cranston will play it more Walter White and less Hal) ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bryan-cranston-reportedly-cast-as-lex-luthor-in-the-upcoming-superman-batman-pic/667062/3 "2013-08-24T16:40:19Z")
Has there even been a truly good adult Lex luthor? ---
**Author:** ![planetcory](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/planetcory/32/1032_2.png) [@planetcory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/planetcory)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bryan-cranston-reportedly-cast-as-lex-luthor-in-the-upcoming-superman-batman-pic/667062/4 "2013-08-24T16:43:34Z")
Cosmicbooknews is a website of questionable veracity and the only source that’s claiming this so far. Plus the creators themselves have said they see Luthor as a Richard Branson/Brad Pitt combo. A handsome adventurer type. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bryan-cranston-reportedly-cast-as-lex-luthor-in-the-upcoming-superman-batman-pic/667062/5 "2013-08-24T17:14:21Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Cristopher Reeves Nothing personal, pet peeve: _Reeve_. George Reeves. Christopher Reeve. Simple mnemonic: each name only has one _s_. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bryan-cranston-reportedly-cast-as-lex-luthor-in-the-upcoming-superman-batman-pic/667062/6 "2013-08-24T17:22:29Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Has there even been a truly good adult Lex luthor? Yeah, John Shea in _the Adventures of Lois and Clark_. Outside of that, not that I know of. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bryan-cranston-reportedly-cast-as-lex-luthor-in-the-upcoming-superman-batman-pic/667062/7 "2013-08-24T17:38:54Z")
“The Breaking Bad star is said to have signed up to play Superman’s long-time nemesis for a minimum of six films which could extend to ten.” Dubious. I don’t think actors typically sign up for a minimum of six films at once. And would they really plan to have six to ten films with Luthor as the villain? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bryan-cranston-reportedly-cast-as-lex-luthor-in-the-upcoming-superman-batman-pic/667062/8 "2013-08-24T17:55:36Z")
> [@randwill](#): > > And would they really plan to have six to ten films with Luthor as the villain? No, but they might plan for six to ten films in which they want to allow for the character to appear. How many times has someone else had to play a character in a film just because no one ever thought to go ahead and get the original contractually obligated to do the sequels? ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bryan-cranston-reportedly-cast-as-lex-luthor-in-the-upcoming-superman-batman-pic/667062/9 "2013-08-24T18:08:30Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > No, but they might plan for six to ten films in which they want to allow for the character to appear. How many times has someone else had to play a character in a film just because no one ever thought to go ahead and get the original contractually obligated to do the sequels? They may be thinking along the lines of Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury. He may only show up a few minutes in a Marvel movie, but it added a lot towards continuity up to the Avengers. ---
**Author:** ![ekweizn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7c8e57/32.png) [@ekweizn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekweizn)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bryan-cranston-reportedly-cast-as-lex-luthor-in-the-upcoming-superman-batman-pic/667062/10 "2013-08-24T18:14:31Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Has there even been a truly good adult Lex luthor? I enjoyed Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor on Smallville. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bryan-cranston-reportedly-cast-as-lex-luthor-in-the-upcoming-superman-batman-pic/667062/11 "2013-08-24T18:21:11Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > They may be thinking along the lines of Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury. He may only show up a few minutes in a Marvel movie, but it added a lot towards continuity up to the Avengers. Exactly, yes. He may not be the villain, but they may want to “allow for the character to appear,” was what I was getting at. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bryan-cranston-reportedly-cast-as-lex-luthor-in-the-upcoming-superman-batman-pic/667062/12 "2013-08-24T18:23:25Z")
Bryan Cranston—isn’t he the guy who played the dad on _Malcolm in the Middle_? I like him, but I’m not sure how well he’ll be able to handle a darker, more serious role. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bryan-cranston-reportedly-cast-as-lex-luthor-in-the-upcoming-superman-batman-pic/667062/13 "2013-08-24T18:27:16Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Bryan Cranston—isn’t he the guy who played the dad on _Malcolm in the Middle_? I like him, but I’m not sure how well he’ll be able to handle a darker, more serious role. Have you not seen _Breaking Bad_? The dude can do dark and menacing quite well. He also played dentist Tim Whatley in _Seinfeld_. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bryan-cranston-reportedly-cast-as-lex-luthor-in-the-upcoming-superman-batman-pic/667062/14 "2013-08-24T18:35:17Z")
Methinks **Chefguy** got whooshed. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bryan-cranston-reportedly-cast-as-lex-luthor-in-the-upcoming-superman-batman-pic/667062/15 "2013-08-24T18:39:35Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Methinks **Chefguy** got whooshed. 😉 “Again”, is what you meant to add. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bryan-cranston-reportedly-cast-as-lex-luthor-in-the-upcoming-superman-batman-pic/667062/16 "2013-08-24T18:47:27Z")
There was very recently a highly voted post with a picture of Cranston and something saying how he should play Luthor. The timing of this news seems to be inspired by that post, so I don’t believe it’s true. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bryan-cranston-reportedly-cast-as-lex-luthor-in-the-upcoming-superman-batman-pic/667062/17 "2013-08-24T20:14:42Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > The dude can do dark and menacing quite well. > > He also played dentist Tim Whatley in _Seinfeld_. Combine these in a remake of _Marathon Man_: “Is it _safe_?” ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bryan-cranston-reportedly-cast-as-lex-luthor-in-the-upcoming-superman-batman-pic/667062/18 "2013-08-25T00:18:29Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Has there even been a truly good adult Lex luthor? I like Gene Hackman in the first two Superman movies. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bryan-cranston-reportedly-cast-as-lex-luthor-in-the-upcoming-superman-batman-pic/667062/19 "2013-08-25T01:02:33Z")
> [@randwill](#): > > Dubious. I don’t think actors typically sign up for a minimum of six films at once. Samuel L. Jackson originally signed up for six Marvel movies and I believe Mark Ruffalo is contracted for four. It happens. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bryan-cranston-reportedly-cast-as-lex-luthor-in-the-upcoming-superman-batman-pic/667062/20 "2013-08-25T02:45:12Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I like Gene Hackman in the first two Superman movies. Both Hackman and Spacey did fine jobs as Luthor. The only problem Spacey had was that he was in a really boring movie. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bryan-cranston-reportedly-cast-as-lex-luthor-in-the-upcoming-superman-batman-pic/667062.md?page=2)