# You know what we need as the next step in the DCEU? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 28, 2022, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-we-need-as-the-next-step-in-the-dceu/973907 "2022-10-28T03:40:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-we-need-as-the-next-step-in-the-dceu/973907/1 "2022-10-28T03:40:19Z")
Now that James Gunn has assumed ‘The Feige role’? I was listening a fantastic symphony version of John Williams ‘Main Superman Theme’ And I started wondering “Why are the first two Superman films held in such high regard? They’re both fairly silly.” And I started going over the silliest parts in my head and I thought: When the \*\*\*\* are we going to get a Lex Luthor thats even slightly comparable to the comics version?? Live action that is. I guess BY DEFAULT Kevin Spacey’s is the best. And the other two have frigging hair until the end! (Yes I know Lex had hair in his youth) I love Superman (1978) Gene Hackman is always fun but holy crap him and Ned Beatty? Come on. So if I were Gunn, the very first film I’d greenlight would be called _Luthor_. Or maybe an HBO mini-series. That way you could change up the tone some to make it more flexible. As for the actor?..hell Brian Cox is 74 so thats not gonna work. But he’d be great maybe as Lex’s father. I need a younger Cox! Someone stocky, imposing, looks good bald and has gravitas. Someone who can evoke sympathy. I don’t want Lex to be a mustache twirling villain. Neither Bruce Willis or Michael Chiklis are quite right. So…Tom Hardy? What do you all think? Or is Tom overused. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-we-need-as-the-next-step-in-the-dceu/973907/2 "2022-10-28T03:48:17Z")
Bryan Cranston. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-we-need-as-the-next-step-in-the-dceu/973907/3 "2022-10-28T04:29:54Z")
A Lex that truly believes that Superman is dangerous-so dangerous that almost _any_ means are justified in getting rid of him. The Lex in the novel _Superman: Last Son Of Krypton_ by Elliot S. Maggin would do nicely. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-we-need-as-the-next-step-in-the-dceu/973907/4 "2022-10-28T04:32:53Z")
Silver Age Lois Lane or The Metal Men. That’s what it would take for my to watch another DC movie or TV show. ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-we-need-as-the-next-step-in-the-dceu/973907/5 "2022-10-28T04:49:48Z")
I can get behind both of those. I’d especially like to see Timothy Dalton cameo in the Metal Men one. I’m pretty sure though DC would insist it be animated. But make it stylish enough and it would really work > **[Metal Men #30 - Comics Archeology](https://comicsarcheology.com/index.php/2022/02/27/metal-men-30/)** > > The Metal Men enter the Forbidden Dimension in the first story not written by Robert Kanigher. Will it still be an insane trip? ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-we-need-as-the-next-step-in-the-dceu/973907/6 "2022-10-28T05:07:59Z")
> So if I were Gunn, the very first film I’d greenlight would be called _Luthor_. Or maybe an HBO mini-series. First step, call Michael Rosenbaum. The best part of _Smallville…_ his Lex Luthor was scary because he was always on the edge between caring and destroying. They showed him being relentlessly humiliated by his father. (John Glover, in his best role… even though I loved his Miles Drentell in _thirtysomething.)_ Oh, here’s a good Luthor compilation… cued up to show Father and Son Luthor… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Tay94HjmRnc/maxresdefault.jpg "Lex Luthor | The Dark Power | Smallville") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tay94HjmRnc&t=44) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-we-need-as-the-next-step-in-the-dceu/973907/7 "2022-10-28T05:16:08Z")
> [@Pavelb1](#): > > I guess BY DEFAULT Kevin Spacey’s is the best. You are wrong, and here’s **digs** to tell you why: > [@digs](#): > > Michael Rosenbaum. ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-we-need-as-the-next-step-in-the-dceu/973907/8 "2022-10-28T05:27:20Z")
Ive never watched Smallville…but thats definitely the kind of complex, layered angle I’m looking for. I DID watch various clips from that CW Crisis on Infinite Earth that had all kinds of fun and loving cameos. In which we see Smallville Clark gave up his powers and Lex (albiet offscreen) becomes President. Clark is okay with it apparently so its nice to see everyone got what they wanted/ redemption. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-we-need-as-the-next-step-in-the-dceu/973907/9 "2022-10-28T05:29:13Z")
The did spend the first few seasons as friends, which was, I though, well-handled. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-we-need-as-the-next-step-in-the-dceu/973907/10 "2022-10-28T05:40:38Z")
I liked Michael Rosenbaum a lot as Lex Luthor. It’s the most complex portrayal of the character I’ve ever seen. He was actually likeable most of the time. I can see Cranston as Luthor also, but mostly because Walter White was basically Lex Luthor if he had far fewer resources and was restrained by living in a non-comic book world. (Well, less of one at least.)