[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”14311″ img_size=”800×450″ alignment=”center”][vc_column_text][EXCLUSIVE] – In the past two years we have been honored to speak with some of film and televisions brightest actors, actresses, costume designers, cinematographers and more. I was so excited to get the chance to speak with none other than former Two and Half Men star Jon Cryer. Jon is set to play the role of Lex Luthor on CW’s Supergirl. Jon is no stranger to the world of DC Comics, he was in Superman 4 and played Lex Luthor’s (Gene Hackman) nephew Lenny Luthor. Now the tables have turned and Jon is the man who is Superman’s number one arch nemesis and soon to be Supergirl’s (Melissa Benoist).
I am thrilled to bring you all this awesome interview and it might be one of the few interview’s Jon has done since being cast as Lex Luthor.
GVN: You have been in acting for a long time. Can you tell us when you knew acting was something you wanted to do?
Jon:
From the time I was about 12. I used to admire the child performers on a lot of the sitcoms of the time. The Brady Bunch and the Partridge family were super popular in my house. And I thought I could do that.
GVN: Which role has been your most memorable?
Jon:
Gotta be Alan Harper. I did that thing for 12 years. I lived in his skin. For better or worse. I mean, I did a fair amount of comedic nudity on the show, so I was literally baring myself.
GVN: You just scored the role of Lex Luthor on Supergirl but in Superman 4 you played Lex’s nephew Lenny. How does it feel to actually be Lex this time around?
Jon:
It’s a totally different challenge. I’m just trying to fulfill the new Lex that the writers on Supergirl have envisioned. I mean, I love the history, and being a part of that, but I’m looking at this as a whole new thing. I saw Superman the movie when I was 13 years old and it blew my mind. I wanted to live in that world, so when I got the chance to do Superman IV, there was no way I was not going to do it. That it ended up being such a troubled production has always hurt me in a way that only 13-year-old boys can be hurt.
GVN: What was it like working with Christopher Reeve and Gene Hackman? Did you learn a lot from them while on set?
Jon:
Both lovely guys. I respected Christopher a lot because he seemed very comfortable with the obligation of playing such an iconic character. He understood that it meant more to his audience than just another role an actor could play. And Gene was just a lovely, fun presence to have on the set. He had the gravitas of an Academy award winning actor, but he was clearly there to have fun. Did not take the whole thing too seriously.
[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”14310″ img_size=”625×449″ alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]GVN: You’re most known for comedies and while Lex can have a sense of humor, how do you think you will approach playing one of the most famous villains of all time?
Jon:
Villains never think they’re villains. And I’ve been spending some time living with the idea and thinking about how we as humans would feel if super powered beings lived among us. It’s actually a very scary idea. People who felt the way Lex does would be completely justified.
GVN: Do you plan to play Lex in your own style or will you use inspiration from other actors who have played him before?
Jon:
You can’t help but be inspired by some of the greatness that came before you. I recall loving Michael Rosenbaum‘s version of Lex from Smallville and Clancy Brown‘s voice work but because I was a kid when I saw Superman the movie, Gene Hackman will probably always be definitive. But I think the most important goal is to find my own thing.
GVN: We could tell based on your tweets that you are very excited for this role and we are excited for you. How excited are you to work along side Melissa Benoist and Tyler Hoechlin?
Jon:
As of now unfortunately I’m not scheduled to work with Tyler. But I have loved what Melissa has brought to the character. She’s really made it her own. She has this incredible warmth as a performer, the kind of thing you just can’t fake, that makes you believe she could be that kind supernatural character. She is similar to Christopher Reeve in that way.
GVN: Are you able to discuss if we will see Lex beyond this season of Supergirl?
Jon:
Sadly, no. I know they’ve got some crazy, ambitious ideas for the Arrowverse. But I don’t know if they want Lex to be a part of them.
GVN: Besides Melissa and Tyler, who else are you excited to be working along side on the show?
Jon:
Turns out I’ve got great stuff to do with Katie McGrath who plays my sister Lena Luthor. That’s the source of much of the conflict of the show. And I know that Miss Tessmacher character is already on the show, so I’m hoping there will be some fun with that.
GVN: You were part of one the greatest sitcoms on television in Two and Half a Men. Looking back how do you view your time on the show?
Jon:
The vast majority of my time on the show was great. Yes, there was a fair amount of drama. But playing that character for so long and having writers who just kept finding new facets to a wonderful character was one of those rare situations where you understand how special it is while you’re going through it.
GVN: Do you have any other upcoming projects or events that you might want to plug or talk about?
Jon:
I am headed to the Sundance film Festival to see a film I made with Pete Davidson over the summer. It’s called Big Time Adolescence and I think the writer/director found something really special in the coming of age story. I hope audiences will find it as well.
Such huge honor speaking with you Jon and we all cannot wait to see you make your debut on Supergirl as Lex Luthor.
I am so hyped after what Jon had to say and I hope that this will not be the only time we see Jon as Lex. Hopefully we will get to see him and Tyler’s Superman go toe to toe in the Arrowverse. I think they need a strong villain like a Lex Luthor, don’t you?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
DC Fanboy! Superman is the greatest comic book character of all time. Favorite movies are Man of Steel, Goonies, Back To the Future
