John Cryer to play Lex Luthor on 'Supergirl'

Jon Cryer is to play Lex Luthor on The CW series, "Supergirl." File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI Jon Cryer and guest arrive on the red carpet of the Black & Red Ball celebrating the final season of "Mad Men" in Los Angeles on March 25, 2015. File Photo by David Silpa/UPI Jon Cryer holds his lead actor in a comedy Emmy at the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on September 23, 2012. File Photo by Danny Moloshok/UPI

Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Superman IV: The Quest for Peace scene-stealer John Cryer is to play Lex Luthor on Supergirl.

Executive producers Robert Rovner and Jessica Queller announced Cryer's casting opposite Melissa Benoist's titular heroine in The CW series Friday.

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"We are enormous fans of Jon Cryer, and he was instantly our dream actor to play the iconic role of Lex Luthor. Jon is a super-talent, and the fact that he played Lenny Luthor in Superman IV brings an added layer of legacy to his casting," they said in a joint statement. "We're beyond thrilled to welcome Jon to the Supergirl family."

Cryer played villain Lex's nephew Lenny in 1987's Quest for Peace, the final film featuring Christopher Reeve as Superman. Gene Hackman played Lex.

"I am way too excited about this," Cryer tweeted after his new job was reported.

The Emmy-winning actor is famous for his iconic teen romantic-comedy, Pretty in Pink, and long-running stint on the sitcom, Two and a Half Men.