Jesse Eisenberg Cast As Lex Luthor; Jeremy Irons As Alfred in Superman/Batman Film

Warner Bros. has officially announced Jesse Eisenberg to play Lex Luthor, and Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth in the as of yet untitled Superman/Batman film, the sequel to 2013's Man of Steel.

It has been rumored that Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston would play Luthor, who looks great for the part by the way. But with Eisenberg's casting, it's pretty obvious that director Zack Snyder is going for a younger, fresh-looking, and less-menacing Lex Luthor.

In the Warner Bros. press release, Snyder stated, "Lex Luthor is often considered the most notorious of Superman’s rivals, his unsavory reputation preceding him since 1940. What’s great about Lex is that he exists beyond the confines of the stereotypical nefarious villain. He’s 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."

Starring in lead roles in movies such as The Social Network, Zombieland, and the more recent Now You See Me, Eisenberg has proved he can play manipulative and intelligent characters. However, he certainly looks pretty young to be Luthor, although being the same age as Henry Cavill who's portraying Superman. And we have yet to see how threatening and bald he will be.

Jeremy Irons is an expected choice for Alfred, after being portrayed by fellow British actor Michael Caine. "As everyone knows, Alfred is Bruce Wayne’s most trusted friend, ally and mentor, a noble guardian and father figure. He is an absolutely critical element in the intricate infrastructure that allows Bruce Wayne to transform himself into Batman. It is an honor to have such an amazingly seasoned and gifted actor as Jeremy taking on the important role of the man who mentors and guides the guarded and nearly impervious façade that encapsulates Bruce Wayne," the director added about Irons.

The untitled Superman/Batman film is set to be released in May 2016, after being moved almost a year later from its original show date of 2015.

For the full press release, you can see it in WB's website.