Exclusive: Jesse Eisenberg confirms Lex Luthor will return for Justice League

Sorry, Superman. Bad news, Batman. Looks like you’ll be battling Lex Luthor for a good while yet.

That’s because star Jesse Eisenberg has told ShortList that he would “love to play Lex Luthor for years”. What’s more, he hopes “he stays alive throughout the next few films”.

There has been much speculation as to whether the Oscar nominee would return for 2017’s Justice League, but Eisenberg also cleared that up, explaining that he joins filming once his self-penned play The Spoils finishes its London run in August (hurry if you want tickets for that, by the way).

“They are filming (Justice League) now, and I jump in from August,” Eisenberg told us ahead of the release of Now You See Me 2.

Justice League follows on from this year’s Batman Vs Superman and, while the film wasn’t for everyone, it still took in just under $900m worldwide.

And Eisenberg cannot wait to reach for the clippers to play the chrome-domed megalomaniac once again.

“I loved the character and it was the most fun I’ve ever had at playing a role, and most challenging, in a great way, and most rewarding.

“I would love to play it for years.

“The character I play is so unusual and complicated. As an actor he’s everything you’d want to do. It’s very exciting for me to play that role. And, secondarily, it’s interesting to be in these massive, high-profile movies, because all the stuff around you as an actor is really good. All the artists are really great, so you walk on to a set and it’s the most-detailed, comprehensive set, and as an actor it really fills in your imagination in a special way.

“You’re also acting with incredible actors. In the last movie I had lots of scenes with Holly Hunter, who has been one of my favourite actors since I was young. This all exists because this movie is so massive that they attract so many talented people, even in smaller positions. It was really special to me.

“The most exciting part was to play such an interesting character and I certainly hope he stays alive throughout the next few films.”

So, what’s the plot of Justice League all about?

“I truly don’t know the answer!”

Lex Luthor might be a no good sneak, but we like the cut of Eisenberg’s jib, and so believe him.

Heck, he even weaved in a Justice League-related gag, adding: “I did not grow up with comic books so to me, being in a movie like Batman V Superman, I approached it like it was just another role, but a really great role. There was added pressure just because I thought the role was so wonderful and written so well that I wanted to do it justice – no pun intended.”

He's in a league of his own, this one.

Now You See Me 2 is in cinemas nationwide from 4 July. For more with Jesse Eisenberg, pick up ShortList on 30 June