News has come out of SDCC this weekend that Lex Luthor will make an appearance on the upcoming DC Universe show Titans, and this comes as no surprise since they’ve announced Superboy for the series as well. Luthor plays an important part in some of the storylines we’ve seen from the Teen Titans and Young Justice, primarily in his creation of Conner Kent, so I’m sure we’ll be able to see that unfold on-screen. Having such a legendary character hit the small screen means you need to have the right actor to play him, and I have a few suggestions on who should do so.
1. Corey Stoll
I fully believe that Corey Stoll was born to play Lex Luthor, and it’s honestly a shame that he wasn’t given the chance to do so in the DCEU. However, this could be a chance to remedy that mistake. Stoll not only has the perfect look for Luthor, but he is wonderful at playing political type villains, and I think that he would blow the role out of the water.
2. Christopher Meloni
Christopher Meloni is notorious for being a naturally bald (or almost bald) actor, so suggesting him to play Lex Luthor is only logical. Not only could Meloni be made up to look exactly like his comic book counterpart, but he also brings his signature type of intensity to the screen, and I think that he could be truly sinister in the role. If he would sign on to the series is a different story, but I would love to see him portray the character, and I feel like he could do a better job than almost all of his predecessors.
3. Billy Zane
Billy Zane is an actor that everyone has always wanted to play Lex Luthor, and the reason is obvious. He practically is Lex Luthor. Zane just isn’t a big enough star to portray the character in a movie, so this could be a golden opportunity for him. Not only does he embody the look of the character perfectly, but he has experience with playing powerful villain types, and I think that he would be a wonderful addition to Titans.
4. Michael Chiklis
Michael Chiklis is one of the most famous bald actors in Hollywood, yet no one thinks of him to play Lex Luthor. He’s shown that he can play an intense villain with his role as Captain Barnes on Gotham, and I think that could easily translate over to a bigger antagonist like Luthor. While he may not be exactly how you picture the character, he’s a brilliant and intimidating actor, and I think that he could exceed many people’s expectations of him.
5. Andrew Scott
You may know Andrew Scott from his brilliant portrayal of Moriarty on Sherlock, and that’s really all you need to see in order to know that he would make an excellent Lex Luthor. On top of his experience playing eccentric villains, he could provide a completely different take on the character, and could give the Titans a villain worth remembering. I can imagine everything that DC was trying to accomplish with Jesse Eisenberg’s casting happening with Andrew Scott, and it’s completely possible that he outshines the current DCEU Luthor.