FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JESSE EISENBERG AND JEREMY IRONS JOIN THE CAST OF
WARNER BROS. PICTURES’ UNTITLED SUPERMAN/BATMAN FILM
FROM DIRECTOR ZACK SNYDER
Eisenberg to star as Superman’s greatest foe, Lex Luthor, while Irons takes on the
role of Alfred.
BURBANK, CA, January 31, 2014 – Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that Jesse
Eisenberg has been set to star as Lex Luthor and Jeremy Irons will play Alfred in
the upcoming Zack Snyder untitled Superman/Batman film. The dual announcement was
made today by Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide
Production, and Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and International
Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.
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.”
The director added, “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.”
Eisenberg received Academy Award®, Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award®
and BAFTA Award nominations for his starring role as Mark Zuckerberg in David
Fincher’s “The Social Network.” He also starred in Woody Allen’s “To Rome with
Love” and Louis Letterier’s “Now You See Me.” He next appears in “The Double” and
“Night Moves.”
Irons won the Academy Award® for his portrayal of Claus von Bülow in “Reversal of
Fortune.” His work in the film also garnered him a Golden Globe Award. He won an
Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award® for his performance in the TV
miniseries “Elizabeth I,” opposite Helen Mirren, and recently starred on the small
screen as Rodrigo Borgia in Neil Jordan’s highly acclaimed Showtime series “The
Borgias,” for which Irons earned a Golden Globe nomination. He was recently
nominated for a SAG Award® for the PBS Great Performances television miniseries “The
Hollow Crown,” for his performance as Henry IV.
Snyder’s film stars Henry Cavill, reprising his role as Superman/Clark Kent, Ben
Affleck as Batman/Bruce Wayne, and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince. The film
also reunites “Man of Steel” stars Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane.
The new film is currently being written by Chris Terrio, from a screenplay by David
S. Goyer. Charles Roven and Deborah Snyder are producing, with Benjamin Melniker,
Michael E. Uslan, Wesley Coller, David S. Goyer and Geoff Johns serving as executive
producers.
The film is set to open worldwide on May 6, 2016, and is based on Superman
characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster, Batman characters created by Bob
Kane, and Wonder Woman created by William Moulton Marston, appearing in comic books
published by DC Entertainment.
-wbp-
