Jesse Eisenberg et Jeremy Irons rejoignent le casting de Batman vs Superman !

Une nouvelle qui a fait l'effet d'une bombe hier soir sur la toile, ou la réponse de la Warner au récent casting canon de Marvel pour Ant-Man et Avengers : Age of Ultron...


C'est par un communiqué officielle que la Warner a donc officialisé la chose, en annonçant que Jesse Eisenberg serait finalement le Lex Luthor de Batman vs Superman, et que Jeremy Irons serait le fidèle majordome Alfred, du Batman/Bruce Wayne Ben Affleck.

Rôle qui jusqu'alors, n'avait fait l'objet d'aucune rumeur de casting, personnage campé à la perfection il y a encore peu, par l'inestimable Michael Caine dans la trilogie Dark Knight de Christopher Nolan.

« Lex Luthor est souvent considéré comme le plus célèbre rival de Superman. Lex dépasse les stéréotypes du vilain : c’est un personnage compliqué et sophistiqué dont l’intellect, la richesse et le pouvoir le positionnent comme l’un des rares mortels à pouvoir défier Superman. Avoir Jesse dans ce rôle nous permet d’explorer cette intéressante dynamique, et mener le personnage dans de nouvelles directions. » Zack Snyder

Une arrivée hautement surprenante, vu la jeunesse du Jesse, qui n'a strictement rien à voir avec les autres noms cités ses derniers mois : Terry O'Quinn, Mark Strong, Bryan Cranston mais surtout Joaquin Phoenix, dont la rumeur d'intérêt de la major, paraissait clairement de loin la plus sérieuse des quatre.

La production semble donc prendre une voie complétement différente de celle que l'on avait prévue, mais pas pour autant moins alléchante sur le papier.

Pour rappel, avec d'ores et déjà au casting Ben Affleck (Bruce Wayne/Batman), Henry Cavill (Clark Kent/Superman), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Amy Adams (Lois Lane), Laurence Fishburne (Perry White) et Diane Lane (Martha Kent), Batman vs Superman aka Man of Steel 2, sortira dans les salles obscures mondiales en mai 2016.

Voici le communiqué officiel - en anglais - de la Warner :

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 “NightMoves.”
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.