Arrowverse fans were thrilled when it was announced that Lex Luthor was finally coming to Supergirl in its fourth season. However, reactions were divided when Two and a Half Men star Jon Cryer was chosen to play Superman’s nemesis. While his casting was a clever callback to his turn as Lex’s nephew Lenny in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, many weren’t sure that the actor, mostly known for his comedy roles, was the best fit for the evil bald billionaire.
Recently, we got our first glimpse at Cryer in character as Lex, which made it look like his interpretation would be a little bit darker than we were expecting from him. And now, Supergirl showrunners Jessica Queller and Robert Rovner have leapt to his defense and promised that he’ll deliver an “emotional” performance.
When asked what his version of the iconic villain will be like, Rovner said:
“Epic. He’s so incredibly talented. His dramatization of Lex is grounded and emotional.”
But don’t expect the role to waste Cryer’s comic talents, as Queller went on to add that he’ll also be “hilarious.” She then made the bold claim that he’ll be the best Lex Luthor ever, saying:
“Hilarious. In our estimation he’s the best Lex Luthor ever. We might be biased, but he’s the most masterful actor. He’s just exhilarating as Lex. I can’t overstate how thrilled we are with him.”
Fans of Gene Hackman or Michael Rosenbaum or maybe even Jesse Eisenberg might have something to say about that, but that’s an argument for another time. Queller concluded by promising that Cryer’s Lex will run the gamut and show off all the character’s sides. We’ve also apparently got lots to look forward to from the dynamic between the Luthor siblings, with the producer teasing:
“He’s powerful, he’s devious, he’s funny, he turns on a dime. His dynamic with Katie [McGrath, who plays his on-screen sister,] Lena, is just so great. We think the audience is going to go crazy when they see his performance.”
Jon Cryer makes his debut as Lex Luthor in episode 4×15 “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” That’s still a few weeks away, but in the meantime, you can continue to tune in for Supergirl season 4 on The CW every Sunday.
