Batman Vs Superman Cast Rumors: Jesse Eisenberg Casting Receives Critical Backlash! Could He Become An Effective Arch-Villain?

Hot on the heels of the internet backlash over Ben Affleck, Warner Bros. released the bombshell of Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor. Let the bashing begin!

Someone has to inform DC/Warner that the netizens were dead serious when they said they did not like Ben Affleck to play Batman. Warner is stubborn, though, and it is their money to burn. However, Jesse Eisenberg is rather too much to take for some passionate followers. If you consider the actors whom the rumor mill teased (Bryan Cranston, Denzel Washington), Eisenberg was a letdown.

WhatCulture.com compiled some of the issues on why the star of "The Social Network" will ultimately fail:

"Eisenberg Has No Physical Presence." He does not have an imposing character that takes over a movie like Gene Hackman or Kevin Spacey. He does not instill any fear on most mortals, let alone the "Man of Steel."

"Eisenberg is too geeky." While a previous article has mentioned Lex Luthor as a self-made young billionaire/tech genius, he is not Mark Zuckerberg. Whatculture elaborates: "Audiences need to believe that a non-powered business mogul has the balls to take on two of the world's most powerful heroes and win. I'd be surprised if Eisenberg could even convince in an arm wrestling contest against Krypto the dog.

Eisenberg is too young. Gene Hackman and Kevin Spacey both played Luthor in their late 40′s, so at just thirty years old, Eisenberg may be too baby-faced to pull this off." Enough said for that. Some of the other reasons deal with his box office draw. Eisenberg has been the lead star of what is usually an ensemble cast (The Social Network, Now You See Me). Granted, this is Batman Vs Superman, and Henry Cavill is not exactly a blockbuster actor, but should Zach Snyder rely too much on the heroes and villains popularity?

If the rumored plot spoilers hold true, there is some logic in Eisenberg's casting Hitfix points out that he might be portrayed as a charismatic manipulator: "Lex Luthor, in the world of "Man Of Steel" is someone young, someone who's built a tech company that's worth a ton of cash, and someone who has a legitimate reason to dislike Superman right away.

And except for the young part, that's also a pretty fair description of Bruce Wayne.

Here's what I predict, and I hope the people who hated the destruction in "Man Of Steel," the people upset about Superman killing Zod, the people who feel like Superman didn't save anyone... I hope they all go see the sequel... because Lex Luthor is going to speak for them."

Luthor will sway public opinion against Superman, a premise used in the Justice League Animated Series and even in Pixar's "The Incredibles." As a Pied Piper who sways public opinion, and Snyder has often respected the power of mob mentality in his films.