Joaquin Phoenix to play Lex Luthor?

Dec. 18 (UPI) -- The upcoming Batman vs. Superman film has faced more than the expected amount of press scrutiny since Warner Brothers made the unusual decision to cast Ben Affleck as the Caped Crusader.

With virtual unknown Gal Gadot signed on to play Wonder Woman and Jason Momoa in talks to play an unidentified character, fans have been wondering where execs would go with Lex Luthor, Batman's greatest foe.

Joaquin Phoenix tends to favor prestige indie flicks like The Master and Her, but Variety reported Wednesday that Warner Brothers is wooing the 39-year-old actor for the coveted role.

Sources said that "it's very early in the process" and that producers aren't sure whether Phoenix would accept.

Rumors swirled earlier this year that Bryan Cranston, who already rocked the hairless look in Breaking Bad, had signed onto the film, though he later denied the report.

[Variety]