1. Lex Luthor – Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016)
Here at Corner of Film, we refuse to jump on the “Batman v Superman sucks” bandwagon. As superhero movies go, it’s actually pretty solid, and examines the differences between DC’s two heaviest hitters. Unfortunately, it also featured the worst recasting in movie history.
Lex Luthor was played to perfection in the ’70s and ’80s by Gene Hackman. Then the now-disgraced Kevin Spacey offered up a genuinely brilliant take on the character for 2006’s Superman Returns. (Shocking that Spacey could have so convincingly played a villain, isn’t it?) Obviously, Spacey wasn’t going to reprised the role in Batman v Superman, but Zack Snyder inexplicably cast Jesse Eisenberg as Superman’s archnemesis.
Eisenberg’s detractors expected him to bring his usual high-energy neuroses to the role, and they weren’t at all surprised when that’s just what he did. BvS‘s Lex Luthor was perhaps the most bizarre take on the supposed supervillain of all time, especially considering how traditional Spacey’s previous version had been. When it comes to movie characters getting recast in the worst way, Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor deserves some sort of prize. Just as long as he doesn’t reprise the role, that is.
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