Actor Michael Rosenbaum played the role of Lex Luthor in DC’s iconic television series, Smallville. For seven seasons, Rosenbaum did a great job introducing that character to a broader audience. While many will agree that Rosenbaum’s portrayal was spot-on, there was another actor who was offered the role: Anson Mount.
There was a strange reason why Mount didn’t appear on the show, however, he did make a small appearance in the series as another crucial character. Mount didn’t give up the dream of starring in a superhero project as he went on to play Black Bolt in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Anson Mount was shortlisted for the role of Lex Luthor in Smallville
In May 2023, actor Anson Mount appeared on the Talk Ville Podcast and recalled that he almost played the role of Lex Luthor in the television series, Smallville, back in 2001,
“Pretty, pretty close. Yeah [when asked if he tested for the role] – Michael, don’t you remember this? [laughs] Back when you got the role, you were telling me, ‘I’m doing this Superman thing; I’m playing Lex Luthor.’ We were on the phone or something.’ [I said] ‘Oh my god, they offered that to me!’ It just came out; I wasn’t thinking. It was the most stupidest, most insensitive thing to say that I have ever said. I honestly can’t recall [when asked why he turned it down]. My representatives really didn’t want me to shave my head, but that didn’t really bother me. I honestly can not remember why.”
The role of Lex Luthor then went to Michael Rosenbaum. As for Mount, he did bag a role in another superhero franchise later in his career. He played the role of Black Bolt in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and 2017’s TV series Inhumans.
Anson Mount appeared in the series as another character
Although he didn’t get the role of Lex Luthor, Mount still appeared in the series as a different character. In Smallville‘s season 2, episode 19: Precipice, Mount guest-starred as the character Paul Hayden.
Apart from his work in the MCU, Mount has showcased his talent in many TV shows and movies like Star Trek: Discovery (2019), Inhumans (2017), and Cook County (2009). It would’ve been certainly exciting to see Mount’s version of Lex Luthor, but Rosenbaum also didn’t leave any stone unturned, giving fans one of the most iconic versions of Lex Luthor in the franchise.
Source: Talk Ville Podcast
