Lex Luthor 1st appeared in Action Comics #23 in April 1940. Alexander Joseph “Lex” Luthor was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Lex is a diabolical super villain genius and archenemy of Superman.
Lex Luthor has been played by several people. Lyle Talbot was the 1st person to play Lex in the 1950s Atom Man vs Superman.
Gene Hackman went on to play Lex Luthor in the 1978 Superman film. He also appeared in the sequels; Superman II in 1980 and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace in 1987. Hackman played a very different Lex. This version was a money hungry, smart mouthed, vain, gangster. This Lex Luthor also wears hair pieces to conceal his identity.
John Shea played Lex along side Dean Cain in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Superman. This Lex Luthor is the owner of LexCorp and the 3rd richest man in the world right behind Bill Gates. He is also in love with Lois Lane and wants to see Superman out of the picture. Also unlike some of the other Lex Luthors, this version has a full head of hair. Shea has stated, ” Hey, it’s the 90s. Do you think a billionaire like Luthor couldn’t get himself a full head of hair.”
Michael Rosenbaum played a much younger Lex Luthor in the tv series Smallville in 2001. This version was friends with Clark after he was saved when he ran his car off a bridge. He then becomes obsessed with him and it drives him to the point of insanity.
Kevin Spacey bring back Hackman’s version of Lex Luthor by continuing the fixation for real-estate. This version marries a dying widow who dies soon after Superman returns to Earth. He then sets out to avenge himself.
The newest version of Lex Luthor will be played by Jesse Eisenberg. We have seen a few pictures of him from the set of the upcoming film Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice. The pictures show Eisenberg covering his head with a towel. This could mean he has shaved his head for the role like many of the actors before him. We will find out which version of Lex Luthor he plays when the movie hits theaters March 25, 2016.
Source: Cinemablend
