5. Jon Cryer
When The CW first announced their decision to cast Jon Cryer as Lex Luthor in Supergirl, the skepticism ran deep. Four years after finishing his 12-season run on CBS’s Two and a Half Men, the actor, who many still think of as Pretty in Pink‘s iconic, lovable, nerdy character Duckie, the actor took a huge risk in stepping into the villainous role.
He may have played Lex Luthor’s nephew Lenny in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, but that movie wasn’t — how should we put this? — good. 33 years later, could Cryer find redemption in returning to this universe and playing the corrupt billionaire? Absolutely.
Cryer’s take on the famous supervillain is much darker than what Gene Hackman did with the role. He’s a lot closer to the comic book version of Luthor. But there is a sinister glimmer in this Luthor’s eye here that is slightly reminiscent of Hackman’s scenery-chewing glory. Let’s be clear here, though: Cryer does not chew the scenery at all as Lex Luthor.
This Lex is self-obsessed and self-important. But he is also an absolute sociopath. It’s a challenge for any actor to portray someone this evil and still make him fun for audiences to watch. Somehow, Cryer is able to find the inner joy in bringing Luthor to life. And that sinister glimmer we referenced earlier makes Lex Luthor’s ongoing conflict with Supergirl all the more entertaining to watch.