The CW's Superman & Lois is already midway into its third season, and it's been confirmed that this current season is set to introduce its version of Superman's arch-nemesis, Lex Luthor. Actor Michael Cudlitz of The Walking Dead fame is set to play the series' Luthor, but many fans are still curious as to why Jon Cryer, who previously played the character on Supergirl and in other Arrowverse crossovers, isn't reprising his role.
No official response was given by the series' producers explaining Cryer's absence. Some have chalked it up to scheduling conflicts, but it was more so due to casting not fitting with the vision that the showrunners had in mind. Cryer himself took to Twitter, confirming that the series was simply "going another way" with the character. Some fans have been disappointed by this shakeup, but given the nature of the show and what it has managed to accomplish, having Cudlitz replace Cryer is actually the best decision it could have possibly made.
Jon Cryer's Lex Luthor Wouldn't Match Superman & Lois' Tone
When Jon Cryer was cast as Lex Luthor on Supergirl, many saw it as just another case of meta stunt casting (Cryer played Luthor's nephew, Lenny, in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace). Some weren't able to look past his previous role on Two and a Half Men and take him seriously in the Luthor role, but others felt that both his casting and performance managed to pair well with the overall tongue-in-cheek tone of the series. Regardless of how much love or hate Cryer's take on the character received, his presence on a show of Superman & Lois' caliber would definitely not fit in with everything else surrounding him.
Seeing how Superman & Lois has gone out of its way to establish its own separate continuity from Supergirl, bringing back Cryer may seem like a counterintuitive move. Actors Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch (who play the titular characters, respectively) may have reprised their roles from the Arrowverse, but from the very first episode, it's clear that the show has no other ties or connections to it whatsoever. Given the higher visual and storytelling standards of the show, coupled with the series' semi-darker and more serious tone, there's no doubt that Cryer would've stuck out like a sore thumb.
Michael Cudlitz's Past Performances Prove His Lex Can Be Far More Threatening
On a purely physical level, while also having notable previous experience acting on a successful comic book-based TV series, Cudlitz has all the right qualities to make a great Lex Luthor. The actor stands nearly half a foot taller than both Hoechlin and Cryer, and if his role as Abraham on The Walking Dead serves as any further indication, he has the potential for a far more vicious version of Lex who is equally as big on brawn as he is on brains. His Walking Dead character may have been a much more heroic one, but with Abraham's brash attitude and occasionally threatening demeanor, it's enough to prove just how capable Cudlitz could be in a more villainous role.
Superman & Lois has introduced some obscure yet fascinating new DC villains, but having Lex Luthor as a part of it is more than overdue. Seasons 1 and 2 had already hinted at his character, and the show's take on the classic villain is sure to leave a memorable impact. The familiarity of Cryer's performance may be missed by some fans, but the alternate universe established by the series has given it yet another chance to stand out even more with something truly special.
Superman & Lois airs new episodes every Tuesday on The CW. Seasons 1 and 2 can be streamed on HBO Max.