Former Lex Luthor Clancy Brown comments on Jesse Eisenberg in 'Batman vs. Superman' movie

Devoted DC fans, specifically those of the various DC animated series, are all too familiar with Clancy Brown, who voiced Lex Luthor in Justice League, Justice League Unlimited and more. A new Lex Luthor is set to take over when Jesse Eisenberg steps into the role for Zack Snyder's untitled Man of Steel sequel, currently called Batman vs. Superman.

So how does Brown feel about Eisenberg for the part? In an in-depth interview with Comic Book Resources, Brown offered his thoughts on the 30-year-old actor's casting and also touched on why he enjoys the Lex Luthor character so much:

"I want to touch on your time playing Lex Luthor. Interestingly, you have played Lex Luthor longer than any other actor to fill the role. It's a pretty impressive feat. What about that character keeps you coming back to him?

He just translates so well through the years. He fits really well in the '50s and he fits really well in the '60s -- he's just an American icon, I think, in the same way that Superman is an American icon. But they're different sides of the same coin. As our society evolves, the characters evolve.

I'm dying to see the new one. I think Jesse Eisenberg is a great choice. I think he's a really sharp choice, and I know a lot of people don't agree with that, but I think he could be spectacular. I liked [Michael] Rosenbaum's take on it, but that was kind of a WB show. But I just love the idea that the Facebook guy is Lex Luthor. That's just perfect. [Laughs]

What do you think it is about Eisenberg that you think makes him such a good fit for the role?

Well, he's a pretty specific actor. He's not a chameleon like [Gene] Hackman or [Kevin] Spacey. He has a similar smugness the way that Spacey does -- that highly-intelligent, super-smug, almost effeminate kind of smugness about him -- but he's way more current. I just watched Now You See Me which I thought he was terrific in. He has a really specific persona engrained that is super-smart. You don't necessarily like him, but you don't dislike him. You don't necessarily think he's a good, fun guy -- you see him as a real quirky, weird dude. You don't completely trust him, although he's kind of adorable in his nerdy way.

I think Lex has that. Lex is attractive in all the things that shouldn't be attractive -- or aren't traditionally attractive in comic books -- his intelligence and his ambition and his ego and all the rest of that. Jesse carries that really well. Plus, I hear he's a really nice guy, which helps. It's why I think it shines through, why his attractiveness shines through, because deep down he's a good guy. But he also has this kind of intellectual persona that's unsettling. It's almost reptilian, which is something I think Lex carries with him."

It's clear that Brown cares about the character a great deal, and he feels that Lex is in good hands for the new movie.

What do you think of Eisenberg for the part? Let us know in the comments below.