In another bizarre bit of casting news that will doubtlessly have fans scratching their heads, Warner Bros. Pictures has announced that Jesse Eisenberg has been cast to play Lex Luthor in the upcoming Superman/Batman film.  Not so surprising, Jeremy Irons has been cast to play Alfred.
 
The 30-year-old Eisenberg (The Social Network ,Zombieland) seems  an odd choice, because Luthor is usually portrayed as an older, bald, power-mad business magnate; not a contemporary of Superman, who was 33 in the last movie.  But given the choice of Batman casting (see "Petition to Dump Affleck"), Zack Snyder is defiantly going his own way with this story.
 
Of the casting, Snyder said, "(Luthor is) a complicated and sophisticated character whose intellect, wealth and prominence position him as one of the few mortals able to challenge the incredible might of Superman.  Having Jesse in the role allows us to explore that interesting dynamic, and also take the character in some new and unexpected directions."
 
Irons (Reversal of Fortune, Dead Ringers, Lion King) seems a slightly better fit for Bruce Wayne’s butler and confidant.
 
Snyder’s film stars Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent, Ben Affleck as Batman/Bruce Wayne, and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince (see "Wonder Woman Cast for 'Batman vs. Superman'").
 
The film will open on May 6, 2016, where it was moved back from a July 2015 date (see "Ouch! 'Superman/Batman' Movie Bumped to 2016").