News

Beloved actor Gary Oldman made his mark in the world of DC by playing Jim Gordon in Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy. He debuted in the role two decades ago in Batman Begins, becoming one of the most popular actors to play Batman's butler.

Oldman recently took part in a new interview with Josh Horowitz for Happy Sad Confused. He recalled filming Batman Begins, noting how he was a single father at the time who didn't want to be away from his children for too long at a time. Because the film was shot in England, this meant making nearly 30 round trips to shoot his scenes. So much travel naturally left Oldman exhausted, and the actor was able to channel this into his performance as Gordon.

“I was a single dad, and I really didn’t want to leave the kids for too long,” Oldman told Horowitz. “We’re shooting in England,...

The late Gene Hackman was a rare actor who could play just about anything, and his legendary career included stellar performances in every conceivable genre. Comic book fans will always love him for Lex Luthor -- however, the openly comic nemesis in the original Superman: The Movie proves far scarier than he first seems. Hackman's performance represented many people's first exposure to the character, which he returned to twice more during Christopher Reeve's up-and-down run as The Man of Steel. The original is still one of the greatest comic book movies made, and the first to properly bring superheroes to big-screen blockbusters.

He wasn't the last, of course. Numerous actors have gone on to memorably play Lex, including Michael Rosenbaum, Jon Cryer, and Clancy Brown, with Nicholas Hoult waiting in the wings for 2025's Superman.All of them owe at least some of their efforts to Hackman, and in the case of Cryer,...

Quick Links Lex Luthor Has Been the Villain of Most Superman Films and Shows Man of Steel Proved a Superman Film Doesn’t Need Lex Luthor James Gunn Could’ve Easily Used Another Superman Villain

2025 is full of superhero movies and television from Marvel and DC. As the MCU looks to rebuild its brand after a mixed reception to the Multiverse Saga so far with pivotal projects in the pipeline, the new Dcu looks to prove itself worthy as a competitor playing in the same space. DC Studios soft-launched its reboot with Creature Commandos last month, but James Gunn's upcoming Superman film has bigger implications for the franchise. The film's teaser trailer gives us the best idea of what to expect since it offers a glimpse at the massive scale and all the different characters set to appear, ranging from Lois Lane to Mister Terrific.

Gunn's first Dcu film...

Pre-Code Problems.

After wrapping up October with Robert Zemeckis’ hilarious dark comedy Death Becomes Her (listen), we kicked off November with a look back at Wes Craven’s classic slasher A Nightmare on Elm Street (listen). Now, we’re traveling all the way back to the ’30s to discuss Albert Ray‘s 1932 murder mystery comedy The Thirteenth Guest!

In The Thirteenth Guest, Marie Morgan (Ginger Rogers) has just turned 21 and can now accept the inheritance that her father left her when he died at a dinner party 13 years prior. That dinner party was supposed to have 13 guests in attendance, but only 12 showed up.

While Marie tries to figure out the identity of the mysteriously absent thirteenth guest, a psychopath has started killing off the other attendees of that fated dinner party, with the dead bodies being left at the table in the same seats they had originally occupied all those years ago.

In 2025, the upcoming Superman reboot will introduce Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, portraying a more physically imposing version of the iconic villain. Previous big-screen versions of Lex Luthor focused on intellect, but Hoult's Luthor aims to showcase a blend of brawn and brains in the DC Universe. The upcoming film may also explore other aspects of the character, such as Lex Luthor's use of power armor from the DC Comics source material.

The Man of Steel has an impressively long big-screen history, but the DC Universe's reboot, simply titled Superman, is set to finally make good on one classic Lex Luthor trait that's been missing from every previous project. Little is known about Superman's story, but the previous months have seen the impressive cast officially confirmed. Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor is set to oppose David Corenswet's Superman, though it's as of yet unclear if he'll play the role of...

Actor Jesse Eisenberg says the best thing Nicholas Hoult can do with his preparation to play Lex Luthor is to avoid watching the character's portrayal in the Dceu.

In Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Eisenberg debuted his incarnation of Lex Luthor, Superman's greatest adversary. He briefly reprised the role for a post-credits scene in Justice League that was meant to set up a big return that never came to be. Meanwhile, Hoult will play the next live-action Lex on the big screen in the upcoming film Superman: Legacy, and ahead of the movie's production, Eisenberg shared his brutally honest advice for the role, per Variety.

Related Why The Dcau Superman Killed Lex Luthor in A Nightmarish Dystopia Superman: Tas redefined characters like Lex Luthor and Lois Lane, who both shined in an alternate reality that featured an evil, murderous Superman.

"Don't watch me!" Eisenberg said as a playful suggestion to Hoult,...

Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor should embrace the skill of strategic deception, a defining trait of the character, to make him a formidable villain in the Dcu. While Lex Luthor is known for his business acumen, his scientific knowledge should not be overlooked and should be maintained in his portrayal. Lex Luthor's respect for Superman, despite his hatred, is an important aspect to portray, as it adds depth and complexity to the character.

The Dcu's version of Lex Luthor in Superman: Legacy can learn many valuable lessons from his numerous predecessors. DC Studios is beginning a new chapter of DC on film, with James Gunn's Superman: Legacy set to serve as its first major cinematic outing. Nicholas Hoult joined the Superman: Legacy cast as Lex Luthor, and will appear opposite David Corenswet's Man of Steel, with the movie set to debut theatrically on July 11, 2025.

As the Dcu's Lex Luthor,...

Nicholas Hoult's experience playing complex and subtle villains makes him a perfect choice to portray Lex Luthor in the DC Universe's debut film, Superman: Legacy, and beyond. Hoult's previous roles as villains in projects like The Great, Those Who Wish Me Dead, The Menu, and Kill Your Friends showcase his ability to deliver a range of emotions and motivations, which is essential for portraying the layered character of Lex Luthor. With the rebooted DC Universe aiming for lighter tones, Hoult's potential to provide comic relief as Lex Luthor, as seen in his previous roles, makes him an ideal casting decision for the iconic villain.

Despite auditioning for the role of Superman, Nicholas Hoult has been cast as Lex Luthor in the DC Universe for its debut feature film, Superman: Legacy, and this casting choice is actually much better suited to the actor. After Superman: Legacy was first announced...

The Man of Steel has found his arch-nemesis. Nicholas Hoult will play Lex Luthor in the upcoming James Gunn film “Superman: Legacy,” according to a report from Deadline.

IndieWire has reached out to representatives of Warner Bros. for comment.

According to Deadline, the casting process for Luthor began after the SAG-AFTRA strike ended on November 9, with casting on pause since the strike began in July. However, Hoult was in the mix for “Superman: Legacy” beforehand; the actor previously auditioned for the lead role of Clark Kent during early screen tests for the film. Hoult was one of three actors to make the final round of tests along with Tom Brittney and David Corenswet, who was ultimately cast as the lead this past June, along with “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” lead Rachel Brosnahan as Superman’s love interest Lois Lane.

One of the most famous comic book villains of all time,...

In the grand pantheon of superheroes, one figure shines with an enduring brilliance – Superman. He’s not just one of the earliest caped crusaders to grace the pages of comic books; he’s the embodiment of truth and justice, a beacon of hope in a world often shrouded in darkness.

As we delve into the cinematic realm of this iconic character, we unlock a treasure trove of storytelling that has captivated audiences for generations. From the Man of Steel’s inaugural flight on the silver screen to his most recent epic adventures, our journey will span decades of cinematic excellence, exploring every twist, turn, and triumphant moment in the history of Superman movies.

Related: The Evolution of Superheroes: 12 Movies That Shaped the Genre

So, fasten your seatbelts and join us on an exhilarating flight through time and space as we present “All the Superman Movies in Order.”

In this comprehensive guide,...

While Superman fans may not know if Lex Luthor will be in James Gunn's forthcoming movie featuring the Man of Steel, they can figure out what that character might look like. Well, he'll be bald, sure, but they also can figure out how he might behave. Because while appearing on Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum, James Gunn revealed he thinks his friend played the best Lex Luthor in live-action. And he's right.

It's possible that Gunn was just cheering on his friend, using the word "best" to mean "favorite," as most fans do. In truth, it is a bold claim. Great actors have played a variety of the character, and none of them are bigger heavyweights than the inimitable Gene Hackman, who brought the greatest criminal mind to life in three of the four Superman films starring the late Christopher Reeve. Fans' mileage may vary, but Jesse Eisenberg is another fantastic actor,...

The Superman prequel series Smallville has the best live-action iteration of Lex Luthor by far. Smallville debuted in 2001, telling the story of how Tom Welling's Clark Kent discovered his Kryptonian origins and came to terms with his powers. As Clark's story progressed towards his destiny as Superman, so did the story of his future arch nemesis. Michael Rosenbaum's Lex Luthor was entangled with Welling's Clark from the very first episode of Smallville, with the series telling the tragic tale of friends-turned-enemies.

Rosenbaum's long tenure on Smallville, seven of the series' ten seasons, helped the actor cement his legacy as the greatest live-action Lex Luthor to this point. Superman is the epitome of what it means to be a superhero, not only based on the characters' powers but his acute humanity, despite not being human himself. The character has spawned several different movies and TV shows over the years,...

In almost every major Superman live-action adaptation, Lex Luthor is never far behind, being one of the Man of Steel's greatest villains for over 80 years. Wherever Krypton's Last Son appears, his extensive rogue's gallery follows him around. From major antagonists like Lex, Brainiac, Doomsday, Metallo, Parasite, and General Zod, Kal-El's mythology has some very dynamic and powerful foes he goes up against regularly. Even though Superman has to battle some incredibly dangerous threats, his biggest one may actually be the one without any superpowers, and that is Lex Luthor. As seen in the comics, Superman/Justice League cartoons, and every live-action Lex Luthor, the villain needs only his intelligence and sheer willpower to remain Superman's archenemy, posing a threat that Clark can't simply just punch his way through.

Throughout their history, Superman and Lex Luthor have had an ongoing rivalry that has survived any reboots — though it's uncertain...

As the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand, stranger and stranger characters from the bottomless depths of the Marvel Comics universe are going to begin appearing. At its inception in 2008, the MCU still took place in a world that struck at least a passing resemblance to our own. Sometime in 2016, however, when Scott Derrickson's "Doctor Strange" announced that magic is real, the MCU effectively left much of its connection to the real world behind. By 2022, so many extraordinary super-beings and omnipotent space deities have been introduced that nothing seems impossible anymore. 

Michael Giacchino's new TV special "Werewolf by Night," now available on Disney+, takes a swing that, in earlier years, might have been considered bold for the MCU. As it so happens, monsters are real in the Marvel universe, and they have secret societies and superhero teams of their own. The title character in "Werewolf by Night," played by Gael García Bernal,...

You can’t beat pre-Code Barbara Stanwyck, who glows as a knockout thieves’ accomplice, tough prison convict and deceitful lover of an incorruptible revivalist preacher-politician. She’s matched by the sassy, naughty Lillian Roth. In this Warner crime-tale-duel between piety and sin, darned if Stanwyck and Roth don’t make the crooked path seem cozy. There’s a girl-girl punch-out and an ill-fated prison break, but just watching Barbara ooze attitude as she saunters through the prison is worth the price of admission. Even more eye-opening is a positively lewd cartoon extra, also from the pre-Code halls of joyful infamy.

Ladies They Talk About

Blu-ray

Warner Archive Collection

1933 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 69 min. / Available at Amazon.com / Street Date , 2021 / 21.99

Starring: Barbara Stanwyck, Preston Foster, Lyle Talbot, Dorothy Burgess, Lillian Roth, Maude Eburne, Ruth Donnelly, Harold Huber, Mary Gordon, Madame Sul-Te-Wan, Robert Warwick, Etta Moten, Helen Ware.

Cinematography: John F. Seitz

Production Designer:...

“She’s not eating. No dinner last night. A cup of black coffee and three cigarettes for breakfast.”

Kay Francis and Lyle Talbot in Mary Stevens, M.D. (1933) will be available on Blu-ray October 26th from Warner Archive. The first-ever Home Video release in any format!

New doctors Mary Stevens (Kay Francis) and Don Andrews (Lyle Talbot) launch their practices in the same medical building, where Mary dedicates herself to her patients while facing constant prejudice for being a woman. Despite Mary’s love for him, Don falls for Lois Rising (Thelma Todd), the daughter of a powerful politician, and the two eventually marry, leaving a brokenhearted Mary to move on and focus on her work. As Mary becomes a successful pediatrician, Don’s marriage deteriorates, driving him to drink and eventually threatening his career. Escaping to a resort, he unexpectedly runs into Mary, and the two rekindle their old love.

All hail Blu-ray 3-D … a format still hanging on as one of the best features of home theater. Budd Boetticher’s trim action meller gives us Van Heflin (good) and Julie Adams (respectable) in a Mexican rebellion mini-epic with a backlot feel but rather good 3-D. The 3-D Film Archive’s experts have optimized the depth effect and included a colorful, very depth-y Woody Woodpecker cartoon. And Boetticher advocate Jeremy Arnold provides the audio commentary.

Wings of the Hawk

3-D Blu-ray

Kl Studio Classics

1953 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 81 min. / available through Kino Lorber / Street Date February 9, 2021 / 29.95

Starring: Van Heflin, Julie Adams, Abbe Lane, George Dolenz, Noah Beery Jr., Rodolfo Acosta, Antonio Moreno, Pedro González González, Paul Fierro, Mario Siletti, Rico Alaníz, Rodolfo Hoyos, Jr., Rosa Turich, Lyle Talbot.

Cinematography: Clifford Stine

Film Editor: Russel Schoengarth

Original Music: Frank Skinner

Written by James E. Moser, Kay Lenard from the novel by Gerald Drayson Adams...

Though he’s most familiar to audiences as J. Jonah Jameson, J.K. Simmons hopped over from the Marvel universe to DC for Justice League, in which he played Commissioner Gordon. He didn’t have a major role in the theatrical cut, but the Oscar-winning actor provided a fan-pleasingly traditional take on the Gotham cop. The good news is we should see some new footage of him in the role in the Snyder Cut, coming to HBO Max next year.

While speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Simmons was asked about his thoughts on the Snyder Cut finally being released. Like many of the rest of the cast, the Spider-Man star is happy for the filmmaker getting to realize his original vision for the pic and is personally interested to see it when it’s released. He also promised that it’ll definitely be a lengthy movie, due to how much Snyder wants to achieve.

Helping you stay sane while staying safe… featuring Leonard Maltin, Dave Anthony, Miguel Arteta, John Landis, and Blaire Bercy from the Hollywood Food Coalition.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Plague (1979)

Target Earth (1954)

The Left Hand of God (1955)

A Lost Lady (1934)

Enough Said (2013)

Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941)

Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939)

Heaven Can Wait (1978)

Down to Earth (2001)

Down To Earth (1947)

The Commitments (1991)

Once (2007)

Election (1999)

About Schmidt (2002)

Sideways (2004)

Nebraska (2013)

The Man in the Moon (1991)

The 39 Steps (1935)

Casablanca (1942)

The Lady Vanishes (1938)

The Night Walker (1964)

Chuck and Buck (2000)

Cedar Rapids (2011)

Beatriz at Dinner (2017)

Duck Butter (2018)

The Good Girl (2002)

The Big Heat (1953)

Human Desire (1954)

Slightly French (1949)

Week-End with Father (1951)

Experiment In Terror (1962)

They Shoot Horses Don’t They? (1969)

Ray’s Male Heterosexual Dance Hall (1987)

Airport (1970)

Earthquake (1974)

Drive a Crooked Road (1954)

Pushover (1954)

Waves (2019)

Krisha (2015)

The Oblong Box (1969)

80,000 Suspects (1963)

Panic In The Streets (1950)

It Comes At Night (2017)

Children of Men (2006)

The Road (2009)

You Were Never Really Here...

Jeffrey Wright will play Commissioner Gordon in “The Batman,” director Matt Reeves announced Wednesday.

Late in the afternoon, Reeves tweeted a gif of Wright saying “Tweet something,” along with the text “Tweet! #Gordon,” and a bat emoji.

Created in 1939 by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, Jim Gordon is commissioner of Gotham City’s police department, most often portrayed as a veteran officer who formed an unofficial partnership with Batman first to combat systemic corruption inside Gpd and later to deal with the supervillains plaguing the city. He’s also the father of Barbara Gordon, who secretly fights crime alongside the caped crusader as Batgirl. Gordon’s backstory is further elaborated on in Frank Miller’s “Batman: Year One,” where he’s depicted as a disgraced Chicago cop who finds personal and career redemption after moving to Gotham City just as Batman begins his caped crusade.

Turn of the century detectives typically dispatched the bad guys with handcuffs or handguns – commonplace but effective best practices. In 1938 the aptly named Action Comics flipped that script with a new kind of crime fighter.

This depression era RoboCop didn’t just brush off bullets – he snatched up getaway cars with one arm while corralling bank robbers in the other. And he flew. Written by Jerry Siegel and illustrated by Joe Shuster, the mysterious crusader was a high profile hero with a low brow reputation – in spite of his Olympian physique and matinee idol looks Hollywood remained dubious until 1941 when Paramount rolled the dice with a series of animated shorts.

Produced by Max Fleischer’s studio and directed by his brother Dave, the cartoons were expressionist showcases featuring geometrically precise action sequences that felt retrograde and futuristic at the same time – wisely evoking Fritz Lang’s Metropolis rather than Shuster’s blandly conceived cityscapes.

Metropolis’ most notorious villain is about to become National City’s problem. As previously reported by TVLine, Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men) is joining the cast of The CW’s Supergirl in the iconic role of Lex Luthor — brother of Lena (played by Katie McGrath) and arch enemy of Superman (Tyler Hoechlin) — and now, we have our first look at the bald baddie in action.

Lex will make his inaugural appearance in Supergirl‘s March 17 episode (The CW, 8/7c), appropriately titled “O Brother, Where Are Thou?” Per the episode’s official synopsis, “Lex Luthor reaches out from...

Jon Cryer, the Emmy-winning co-star of "Two and A Half Men," will return to primetime television to play the scheming, evil genius Lex Luthor as a recurring character on the CW series "Supergirl."

The plan is for Cryer to make his debut as Luthor in the 15th episode of the current season which airs in early January. The series switched to Sunday nights in October when it launched its Season Four storyline. The season’s sixth episode, titled "Call to Action," airs this Sunday.

Just when you thought Supergirl had enough problems to deal with, she’s about to get two and a half more. Jon Cryer will recur as iconic DC villain Lex Luthor, TVLine has learned, making his first appearance in Episode 15 of the CW drama’s current fourth season.

“We are enormous fans of Jon Cryer, and he was instantly our dream actor to play the iconic role of Lex Luthor,” executive producers Robert Rovner and Jessica Queller said in a statement. “Jon is a super-talent, and the fact that he played Lenny Luthor in Superman IV brings an added layer of legacy to his casting.

Look out Supergirl — Lex Luthor is finally on his way to National City. Supergirl producers confirmed Thursday that the iconic villain will make his first appearance on The CW series in its fourth season, which got underway last weekend as the show moved to its new Sunday night 8/7pm time slot.

“We’re beyond excited to introduce iconic villain, Lex Luthor, to Supergirl and to weave him into our story this season,” executive producers Robert Rovner and Jessica Queller said in a joint statement.

Who will portray the evil genius who has more on-screen history than any other DC Comics villain? Time will tell. Casting will “begin shortly,” according to The CW and Warner Bros. TV.

Luthor has been a major presence — in name and through influence — since the Supergirl series first took flight October 2015. The menace from Metropolis casts a long shadow even if he’s yet to meet the local Kryptonian.

Wow … pre-Code pictures frequently offended conservative values, but this saucy ‘n’ sinful big business exposé is guaranteed to bring #MeToo advocates to their feet, demanding that the negative be burned. Loretta Young stars as a rather inconsistent modern maid, trapped between three less-than-scrupulous men. No, make that three total pigs.

She Had to Say Yes

DVD

The Warner Archive Collection

1933 / B&W / 1:37 flat Academy / 66 min. / Street Date October 17, 2017 / available through the WBshop / 21.99

Starring: Loretta Young, Winnie Lightner, Lyle Talbot, Regis Toomey, Hugh Herbert, Ferdinand Gottschalk, Suzanne Kilborn, Helen Ware, Harold Waldridge, George Chandler, Barbara Rogers, Renee Whitney, Pat Wing, Toby Wing.

Cinematography: Arthur Todd

Film Editor: George Amy

Costumes: Orry-Kelly

Written by Rian James, Don Mullaly, from a story by John Francis Larkin

Supervised by Henry Blanke

Directed by Busby Berkeley, George Amy

Loretta Young rules the pre-Code roost! There are plenty of good reasons to amble over to the website Greenbriar Picture Shows,...

"Batman and Robin", aka "New Adventures of Batman and Robin" is a 15-chapter serial released in 1949 by Columbia Pictures, starring Robert Lowery as 'Batman' and John Duncan as 'Robin', with Jane Adams as 'Vicki Vale'  and Lyle Talbot as 'Commissioner Gordon' :

Click the image to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Batman and Robin"...

"Batman" Comic Books...

Robot roll call! This also-ran robotic fantasy from the 1950s is precisely the kind of movie one would expect from Republic, a two-fisted anti-Commie tract for juveniles. The studio comes up with an impressive robo-hero, but short-changes us when it come time for action thrills. Still, as pointed out in Richard Harland Smith’s new commentary, Tobor filled the the kiddie hunger for sci-fi matinees, at least until Robby the Robot came along.

Tobor the Great

Blu-ray

Kl Studio Classics

1954 / B&W / 1:85 widescreen / 77 min. / Street Date September 12, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95

Starring: Charles Drake, Karin Booth, Billy Chapin, Taylor Holmes, Steven Geray, Hal Baylor, Alan Reynolds, Peter Brocco, Robert Shayne, Lyle Talbot, William Schallert

Cinematography: John L. Russell

Production Design: Gabriel Scognamillo

Special Effects: Howard and Theodore Lydecker

Film Editor: Basil Wrangell

Original Music: Howard Jackson

Written by Philip MacDonald, Carl Dudley

Produced by Richard Goldstone

Directed by Lee Sholem...

The Mad Magician

3-D Blu-ray

Twilight Time

1954 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 72 min. / Street Date January 10, 2017 / Available from the Twilight Time Movies Store 29.95

Starring: Vincent Price, Mary Murphy, Eva Gabor, John Emery, Donald Randolph, Lenita Lane, Patrick O’Neal, Jay Novello, Corey Allen, Conrad Brooks, Tom Powers, Lyle Talbot.

Cinematography: Bert Glennon

Editor: Grant Whytock

Original Music: Arthur Lange, Emil Newman

Written by: Crane Wilbur

Produced by: Bryan Foy

Directed by John Brahm

Twilight Time, bless ’em, hands us another treat to go with their 3-D discs of Man in the Dark, Miss Sadie Thompson and Harlock Space Pirate 3-D — and this time it’s a fun bit of 1950s horror — with a hot pair of short subject extras.

There have been plenty of theories as to why horror films became scarce after WW2; it’s as if the U.S. film industry took a ten-year break from the supernatural, and partly...

The news that Academy Award winner J.K Simmons will take on the role of Commissioner Gordon in Justice League was met with great excitement when it was announced recently. This supporting character in the DC comic book universe has always played a significant, vital role – specifically in terms of the stories of Batman – and as such, he has been a consistent onscreen presence in the past decade, that has included Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy.

In comic books, Commissioner James Gordon was introduced at the same time as Batman, in Detective Comics #27 in 1939, and is most often depicted as the Police Commissioner of Gotham City. With initial indications suggesting he was a U.S Marine before joining the police force, Gordon is a reluctant supporter of Batman’s vigilante tactics – feeling that the Dark Knight is a necessary solution for the city he loves.

The character has rich history in live action,...

Photos Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/ Tm & © DC Comics

Warner Bros. Pictures’ screen pairing of the world’s most iconic super heroes has at last answered the question “Who Will Win?” by winning over movie audiences and setting box office records around the world this weekend with an estimated worldwide box office total of $424.1 million.

Batman and Superman. Gotham and Metropolis. Lex Luthor, Doomsday and—for the first time ever on the big screen—Wonder Woman. With its stellar lineup of heroes and villains and bigger and better battles with even more at stake than the destruction of the Earth, Zack Snyder’s Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice is an epic Super Hero journey like no other.

Pit the two greatest heroes in the world against each other and the unthinkable becomes inevitable in the form of a truly seismic clash: Batman, the underground vigilante, a knight in the darkness,...

While Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice doesn't feature an appearance from Commissioner Gordon, the iconic DC Comics character will be making his Dceu introduction in Justice League Part 1. And it sounds like Warner Bros. has found the perfect actor to bring him back to life on the big screen. Oscar winner J.K. Simmons has been cast as Gotham City's most trusted policeman, and he will be appearing alongside Henry Cavill, Jason Momoa, Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice director Zack Snyder is returning to direct Justice League Part 1. The movie will team Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman with a group of international superheroes that include Aquaman, The Flash and Cyborg. They will join together to fight a threat to the world that is bigger than all of them combined. It isn't yet known how Commissioner Gordon will factor into the story, or if he...

Grassroots petitions and sheer fan demand may be coaxing him back to the Marvel universe and Jon Watts’ Spider-Man reboot, but today The Hollywood Reporter brings word that J.K. Simmons has boarded Warner’s Justice League movie as Commissioner Gordon.

Just in time, too, considering that Zack Snyder’s superhero ensemble piece is set to lens at the beginning of next month, and Simmons is now on board as Gotham’s other watchful protector.

More News From The Web

There he’ll join Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill, fresh off their roles in this month’s Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, with Gal Gadot rounding out the DC trinity as Wonder Woman. Aquaman (Jason Momoa), The Flash (Ezra Miller) and Cyborg (Ray Fisher) will also feature, just don’t expect to lay eyes on Warner’s reinvented Green Lantern until Justice League – Part Two in 2019.

Recently portrayed by Gary Oldman...

Let's just take a moment to bask in all of Ian Harding's hotness. The 29-year-old actor is best known for his role as Ezra Fitz on Pretty Little Liars, but what you may not know is that he's also appeared in Adventureland, Love & Other Drugs, and most recently, Addiction: A 60's Love Story. He is set to star in the new film, Oil City, in which he'll play damaged bar owner Lyle Talbot - and we cannot wait! In honor of the upcoming Winter premiere of Pll, we've rounded up Ian's sexiest moments - keep reading to see them now, and then get a first look at the man who's marrying Hanna Marin on the show.

Depraved convicts ! Crazy Manhattan gin parties! Society dames poaching other women's husbands! A flimflam artist scamming the uptown sophisticates! All these forbidden attractions are here and more -- including Bette Davis's epochal seduction line about impulsive kissing versus good hair care. It's a 9th collection of racy pre-Code wonders. Forbidden Hollywood Volume 9 Big City Blues, Hell's Highway, The Cabin in the Cotton, When Ladies Meet, I Sell Anything DVD-r The Warner Archive Collection 1932-1934 / B&W / 1:37 flat Academy / 63, 62, 78, 85, 70 min. / Street Date October 27, 2015 / available through the WBshop / 40.99 Starring Joan Blondell, Eric Linden, Humphrey Bogart; Richard Dix, Tom Brown; Richard Barthelmess, Bette Davis, Dorothy Jordan, Berton Churchill; Ann Harding, Robert Montgomery, Myrna Loy, Alice Brady, Frank Morgan; Pat O' Brien, Ann Dvorak, Claire Dodd, Roscoe Karns. Cinematography James Van Trees; Edward Cronjager; Barney McGill; Ray June Written by Lillie Hayward, Ward Morehouse, from his play; Samuel Ornitz, Robert Tasker, Rowland Brown...

Born in St. Louis on May 27, 1911, iconic actor Vincent Price retained a special fondness for his place of origin, and that love was reciprocated with Vincentennial, a celebration of his 100th birthday in his hometown back in May of 2011 (for summary of all the Vincentennial activities go Here). One of the guests of honor at Vincentennial was Vincent Price’s daughter Victoria Price. Because of their close relationship and her access to his unpublished memoirs and letters, Victoria Price was able to provide a remarkably vivid account of her father’s public and private life in her essential book, Vincent Price, a Daughter’s Biography, originally published in 1999. .In 2011, her biography of her father was out of print. but now it’s been re-issued and Victoria will be in St. Louis this weekend (October 9th – 10th) for three special events. In addition to the biography, she will also be signing...

Parole Inc.

Written by Sherman L. Lowe

Directed by Alfred Zeisler

U.S.A. 1948

Undercover FBI agent Richard Hendricks (Michael O’Shea) starts the film very much undercover, covered in bandages whilst resting in a hospital bed that is. He narrates into a recorder his most recent assignment, taking viewers back to when he was convened to a meeting by police commissioner Huges (Lyle Talbot) and the governor of California in preparation for a harrowing case that aims to shed light on presumed corruption within the parole board in prison. As it presently stands, an alarmingly high number of parole hearings conclude with obviously dangerous individuals being sent out into to roam the streets freely. Hendricks begins his investigation at a nearby restaurant owned by Jojo Dumont (Evelyn Ankers), who uses the establishment as a front for her dealings with the criminal underworld as well as corrupt, higher-ranking lawyers and officials.

Batman’s got The Joker. Spider-Man has Doctor Octopus. The Flash has an entire rogue’s gallery. The Fantastic Four used to have Doctor Doom, but now that Marvel’s banished the Fox-Four from their universe Doom’s annoying everybody, without priority.

Superman has a bald businessman/scientist with a severe ego problem.

I never thought Lex Luthor was much of a villain. In fact, when I was in my teens I was pretty certain I could take him. Evidently, from time to time the folks at DC must have felt the same way. He’s been put into super-power-bestowing armor, he’s been given super-powers and he’s hired or co-opted powered super-villains to do his dirty work.

Lex has been an evil scientist, an evil businessman, an evil president, an outer-world hero, and a domestic hero. He’s been a picker, a grinner, a lover and a sinner.

With such a definitive and spoiler-happy title as “He Married His Wife” (even with pronouns lending a level of mystery), plot quickly becomes unimportant. Even the contemporary micro-genre this 1940 film fills, the comedy of remarriage, immediately announces T.H. Randall’s (Joel McCrea) eventual reunion with estranged wife Valerie (Nancy Kelly). In order for the couple to come together, both actors must switch between clown and straight-man acts at screwball pace using the supporting cast as colorful props.This outline worked well for Howard Hawks’s Bringing Up Baby (1938) two years earlier, but that had the remarkable advantage of both Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn, both known for versatility in anything their studio would throw at them. Conversely, 20th Century Fox put director Roy Del Ruth to the task of He Married His Wife as a workman director capable of identifying the strengths of a trending narrative style for economic opportunity.

Don’t you just hate it when work interferes with work? It’s a sure sign that you’re working too hard.

I am rarely accused of this. Nonetheless, it’s late Tuesday, my column goes up early Wednesday, and I’ve got more work stuff I’ve got to do. So, instead of the well-researched, rabid screaming think piece that surgically eviscerates the comic book world as we know it today, I’m going to share with you some stuff I love.

There was a time when comics fans were in touch with related media such as illustration art, pulp magazines, science fiction, old time radio and newspaper comic strips. This was a time that preceded the mega-million dollar superhero motion pictures in which many fans find their legitimacy. No, what we had were movie serials. Most of them preceded comic books per se, but not those media noted...

We’ll be celebrating the 5th year anniversary of Super-8 Movie Madness at The Way Out Club in St. Louis on Tuesday October 7th with an encore performance of our most popular show. It’s Super-8 Vincent Price Movie Madness in 3D, the show that we took on the road to promote Vincentennial back in 2011. We’ll be honoring the hometown horror hero by showing condensed (average length: 15 minutes) versions of several of Price’s greatest films on Super-8 sound film projected on a big screen. They are: Master Of The World, War-gods Of The Deep, Pit And The Pendulum, The Raven, Witchfinder General, Tim Burton’s Vincent, Two Vincent Price Trailer Reels, Abbott And Costello Meet Frankenstein and The Mad Magician in 3D (We’ll have plenty of 3D Glasses for everyone)

The non-Price movies we’re showing October 7th are The Three Stooges in Pardon My Backfire...

Superman's nemesis Lex Luthor has been in the headlines recently after it was revealed that Jesse Eisenberg will be playing him in the upcoming Batman vs Superman movie.

The super-villain first appeared in the DC comic books in 1940 and, although the archenemy of Superman, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe.

Originally depicted as a mad scientist who used his intelligence to create futuristic weapons, Lex Luthor evolved into a bald businessman and industrialist whose sky-high intelligence compensated for his lack of superpowers.

With Eisenberg stirring debate as the newest incarnation of the villain, we take a look back at the actors who've taken on Lex Luthor and ask who played him best.

Lyle Talbot (Atom Man vs Superman)

Talbot was not only the first actor to take on Lex Luthor, he was also the first live-action actor to play two...

Mike Cecchini Mar 24, 2019

Jon Cryer is the new Lex Luthor, but he sure isn't the first. Let's have a look at the other men who have played the role.

Lex Luthor! The greatest criminal mind of our time! Superman's biggest and most enduring pain-in-the-ass! Mr. Luthor has a screen history almost as storied as that of his caped nemesis, and he's about to be reborn once more on Supergirl, played by Jon Cryer.

Jon Cryer has just been revealed in all his glory as the next bald scientist on the block, but he's certainly not the first. We look back at some of the notable actors who have played Luthor on the big and small screen. While this list isn't comprehensive, these are the guys who made the most impact portraying Superman's greatest foe.

So, fasten your wigs, it's off to the lab!

Lyle Talbot

Atom Man vs. Superman (1950)

Atom Man vs.

With Bryan Cranston recently shooting down rampant rumors that he is going to play Lex Luthor in the upcoming sequel to Man of Steel, I decided to morph past actors who have played Superman's arch-nemesis into one.

Inspired by the face morphs of Bruce Wayne and James Bond that we previously featured on the site, I tried to morph All of the actors who have played Lex in live-action television or film. Sadly, I was unable to find high resolution enough photos for Lyle Talbot (Atom Man vs. Superman), or Sherman Howard and Scott Wells from The Adventures of Superboy series. I'm admittedly still a bit of a photoshop novice, so working in their features while maintaining a sense of photorealism proved too difficult.

Below the pic is a breakdown of actors I was able to include and what part of Lex's face they are. When covering up the other parts of the face,...

Bette Davis movies: TCM schedule on August 14 (photo: Bette Davis in ‘Dangerous,’ with Franchot Tone) See previous post: “Bette Davis Eyes: They’re Watching You Tonight.” 3:00 Am Parachute Jumper (1933). Director: Alfred E. Green. Cast: Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Bette Davis, Frank McHugh, Claire Dodd, Harold Huber, Leo Carrillo, Thomas E. Jackson, Lyle Talbot, Leon Ames, Stanley Blystone, Reginald Barlow, George Chandler, Walter Brennan, Pat O’Malley, Paul Panzer, Nat Pendleton, Dewey Robinson, Tom Wilson, Sheila Terry. Bw-72 mins. 4:30 Am The Girl From 10th Avenue (1935). Director: Alfred E. Green. Cast: Bette Davis, Ian Hunter, Colin Clive, Alison Skipworth, John Eldredge, Phillip Reed, Katharine Alexander, Helen Jerome Eddy, Bill Elliott, Edward McWade, André Cheron, Wedgwood Nowell, John Quillan, Mary Treen. Bw-69 mins. 6:00 Am Dangerous (1935). Director: Alfred E. Green. Cast: Bette Davis, Franchot Tone, Margaret Lindsay, Alison Skipworth, John Eldredge, Dick Foran, Walter Walker, Richard Carle, George Irving, Pierre Watkin, Douglas Wood,...

Jim Knipfel Oct 10, 2019

Stop calling Ed Wood "The Worst Director in History." His films have a unique energy and charm that should be appreciated.

Ed Wood is an easy target, a no-brainer cultural reference for people who’ve likely seen, at most, one or two of his films. Beginning with the 1980 publication of Michael Medved’s The Golden Turkey Awards, Wood was unquestionably and for time immemorial declared "The Worst Director of All Time," and his 1959 picture Plan 9 From Outer Space the Worst Film Ever Made. People have been parroting the party line ever since.

Everybody says it, so it must be true. There’s no reason to even bother with watching the films anymore so long as we’ve been given the answer. You could stick Wood’s name on the credits for, say, Touch of Evil or Rashomon and people would still laugh at the films, because they...

Jim Knipfel Oct 10, 2018

Stop calling Ed Wood "The Worst Director in History." His films have a unique energy and charm that should be appreciated.

This article first ran in 2013, but it's Ed Wood's birthday, so we need to pay tribute to him again.

Ed Wood is an easy target, a no-brainer cultural reference for people who’ve likely seen, at most, one or two of his films. Beginning with the 1980 publication of that asshole Michael Medved’s The Golden Turkey Awards, Wood was unquestionably and for time immemorial declared The Worst Director of All Time, and his 1959 picture Plan 9 From Outer Space the Worst Film Ever Made. People have been parroting the party line ever since.

Everybody says it, so it must be true. There’s no reason to even bother with watching the films anymore so long as we’ve been given the answer. You could stick Wood’s name on the credits for,...

Warner Archive Collection 4th anniversary DVD / Blu-ray releases The Warner Archive Collection (aka Wac), which currently has a DVD / Blu-ray library consisting of approximately 1,500 titles, has just turned four. In celebration of its fourth anniversary, Wac is releasing with movies featuring the likes of Jane Powell, Eleanor Parker, and many more stars and filmmakers of yesteryear. (Pictured above: Greer Garson, Debbie Reynolds, Ricardo Montalban in the sentimental 1966 comedy / drama with music The Singing Nun.) For starters, Jane Powell and Debbie Reynolds play siblings in Richard Thorpe's Athena (1954), whose supporting cast includes Edmund Purdom, Vic Damone, frequent Jerry Lewis foil Kathleen Freeman, Citizen Kane's Ray Collins, Tyrone Power's then-wife Linda Christian, former Mr. Universe and future Hercules Steve Reeves, veteran Louis Calhern, not to mention numerology, astrology, and vegetarianism. As per Wac's newsletter, the score by Hugh Martin and Martin Blane "gets a first ever Stereophonic Sound remix for this disc,...

In the United States, it's Thanksgiving, and I wanted to take a minute to say how grateful I am to my readers for coming back every day and providing better commentary than I do, my great boss Dennis, coworkers like snicks, Louis, Brian, Lyle and all our writers and moderators. I'm amazed every day that I get paid to do this, and that people actually care what I say.

Surprising absolutely no one, Chevy Chase has quit Community, effective immediately. Since most of the series has already been shot, he'll only be absent for a few episodes at the end of the season. Chase has been pretty clear he hated doing television, and he hated his bigoted character even more.

I woke up Wednesday morning to an email from legendary activist David Mixner, who let me know that I'd made his Best of 2012 List, for Best Column. It's a bit...

The Ed Wood Box I Had and lost this wonder and then went and got it again because its just a box of terrible terribly good films! Ed Wood, the master of B movies who's films range from cross-dressers to ghouls. For any body who likes the classics, B-movies, or Edward D. Wood Jr., Bela Lugosi, Gregory Walcott, Tom Keene, Lyle Talbot then this is a must have. The box set does not include all of ed woods films but 6 of his most well known films wh…...