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There was a famous debate that sparked after Ben Affleck was chosen to play Batman for the still-untitled sequel to Man of Steel, and a similar fate may await Joaquin Phoenix.
Variety magazine was the first to report that Phoenix is being considered for the role of villain Lex Luther in the film that opens in July of 2015. They weighed in on the idea of whether Joaquin would accept the role, saying, “Nobody knows, though do you really expect the guy who seems actively miserable any time he has to leave his house to take on a movie that requires a visit to Comic-Con?”
The fact that he tends to stay away from mainstream films, may be an indicator that he might decline the offer. However, he may sign on to this one being that Heath Ledger was won an Oscar after playing the Joker in The Dark Knight.
Although he’s been nominated for his roles in Walk the Line, The Master, and Gladiator, the 39-year-old actor has yet to take home an Oscar.
In August, Comic Book News reported that Breaking Bad’s Emmy Award-winning Bryan Cranston would play Luther. Then, in October, the site revealed that Cranston backed out to pursue theater.
In an interview, Tom Hanks had expressed an interest in playing “the villain in Batman.”
Lost‘s Terry O’Quinn was also rumored to have been a thought for the notorious character.
Man of Steel stars Amy Adams, Diane Lane and Laurence Fishburne will resume their roles in the sequel. British actor Henry Cavill has been cast as Superman. Argo writer Chris Terrio has been asked to write a draft of the script.