Iam Director/Actor Michael Rosenbaum - AMA!

As the best live-action version of Lex Luthor of all time, how much influence did you have over the direction of his character? Smallville's Lex was so much more of a match for Superman than Hackman or Spacey, which isn't a dig at their acting so much as the character.

You absolutely aced Lex over the years, so I really hope Zack Snyder gives you a call.

thank you a million times over. i never imagined in my wildest dreams i'd be playing lex luthor. i'm such a silly person. But the fans have been great and it looks like i did not let them down. i didn't do any research for the role. i remembered Mr. Hackman from the Superman movies but i knew if i was going to play this character for a long time, i'd have to play it real... grounded. I hope Zack at least lets me read so i can at least say i read for it. haha

Hi Michael I'd just like to say that your voice has become the Flash in my mind in the same way Kevin Conroy is the de facto Batman. As for my question, what comic book character would be your dream to play if you hadn't been cast as the Flash?

batman. i could do it. i can make my voice deeper

I loved the interactions between you and John Glover on Smallville. The show was not nearly as good when you guys were gone.

How did you feel about the way Lex was handled at the end of the show?

much obliged my friend. John is a genius and made me a much better actor. he is not only a gifted actor but an incredible guy. just had dinner at his house a few months ago. love him. he's like a dad. a good one though.

thanks for releasing your new movie online concurrently with the theater release. are you getting the response that you had hoped for with the digital market and do you think that this is going to become a bigger trend in movie distribution?

it's tough. for an Independent movie to be seen, you really have to get the word out. And before VOD and ITUNES, it was really tough. I'm just thankful that people get to see the movie. The digital market is the future. now and forever. I still want people to go see Back in the Day in theaters. It's different experience.

What episode of Smallville was your favorite to work on? And what was it like playing a character that changes from being a person trying to do the right thing to becoming Superman’s nemesis?

I also would just like to say your portrayal of Lex Luthor is easily one of the best acting performances on television! Smallville will always be my favorite show of all time.

loved shattered.

the best characters are the ones that have an arc. that go somewhere. going from a man who is trying to do what's right to a man who's truly lost.... that was some journey. one long freaking journey

it's folks like you that make us successful. without you, where would we be? thanks for watching all these years.

Hi Michael! Loved your work on Smallville...

Was there a prop or memento you got to take away from your time on the show that you hold near and dear?

yeah. i stole this crazy piece of art from lex's office. i have it here. haha. and his long trench coat from the last episode ever. yes! didn't really steal. just sounds cool to say.

Hello, Michael! This is a question I've been dying to ask you for several years. Clark and Lex were always destined to be enemies, but Smallville always hinted that Lex could have been a powerful ally to Clark under the right circumstances. So my question is if Clark had confided in Lex about his alien powers in the early seasons when they were still good friends, would Lex have been okay with it? Would he have helped Clark in understanding his powers and giving him protection, or would he have eventually used Clark for his own personal gain? I've wondered this for years and it would be great to hear your opinion! - Katey

so have i Katey. so have i. i think if you're honest with someone from the beginning, there's a level of respect. Clark was never honest with Lex.... so the story goes. But i think that's what is great about this story. it's really left to the imaginations of the fans to think about what could have been.

Hey Mike! I just graduated from Castle, and watched your movie at Showplace. It was fantastic! My dad was actually an extra in the film, and he says thank you for the opportunity! It was really cool of you to film it in Newburgh, and we wish you the best of luck!

i love you. not because you're a fellow hoosier or loved the movie... but because you're so darn nice. thank you. please spread the word.

The Flash was one of my favorite characters on Justice League! I wish they had done more episodes focused on him or even spun him off into his own animated series. Did you enjoy working with Kevin Conroy and the other great voice actors on that show? Would you welcome more opportunities to voice him in the future?

yes. they were a real treat. we were always goofing around. but most of the time i was filming smallville so had to do by myself. but i agree... i always liked to be focused on. :)

Guys, I'll be on for another half an hour or so. I wish I could stay forever. This is a blast. But Back in the Day opens today so i have to do a million things like feed my dog. But you can always tweet me @mrosenbaum711, instagram irvrules, or vine me at Michael Rosenbaum. I respond quite frequently. This has been a real treat. Those that know me, know I love my fans. See ya'll on the flip side. But i'm still answering for next half hour.

We hit 400. wow. I love you all. Thanks so much. I'm out now to promote Back in the Day. If you had fun today, then maybe help a brother out. much thanks, Michael Rosenbaum (Your Lex Luthor)

Who do you think would make an awesome Lex Luthor if they decide to use him in the Zack Snyder Superman series? If it were me, I would cast you :P.

Because I think.. and this is my opinion... that Lex needs to be dynamic and layered. I think he can be funny and insane at the same time. But it needs to be played with absolute conviction. I know I can do this. I think most actors are either serious or comedic. I like to think of myself as both. Unfortunately some people can't get past the fact that I played Lex on television, but i guarantee they would within the first five minutes of watching the movie. Sorry to toot the old horn, but it's honestly how I feel.

How would you describe your latest movie "Back In The Day" - IN JUST 3 WORDS - to someone who hasn't seen it yet? Apart from AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME :)

Hmm. Back in the Day....

Fun. Raunchy. Heartfelt. Farts. damn, that's four.

What was your favorite car that you got to drive as Lex Luthor? I seem to remember him owning a few Ferraris as a couple Porsches.

i feel more comfortable driving a van or pick up truck but i didn't hate driving Lamorghinies. (i don't care about spelling)

Speaking of vans, do you still have the Shaggin' Wagon?

durr

Is BITD going to be released in the UK or made available on DVD?

it sure as hell better be. or you're going to have to fly a long effing way to see it. :0

Fuck, marry, kill. Tom Welling, Tom Arnold, Tommy Lee.

Hmm. why am i entertaining this? because i like entertaining.

Fuck Tom Arnold Kill Tommy Lee Marry Tom Welling (duh) he's got a nice butt.

Morena Baccarin (Homeland)

For reddit, the credit you are looking for is Firefly...

how dare you. hahahha

Hey Michael, big fan of your work and can’t wait for your new film.

My question would be, just how many doctors, lawyers, etc. did Lex have on retainer on Smallville? He seemed to always have plenty of people to assist Clark or others when needed.

Wow. Good question. I wish i knew. let's say a crap load. I think the real question is "where the hell is his security team?" haha

What's one character you'd never play and why?

Well i've played a super villain, a super hero, a transvestite, a pool shark... what's left?

Loved your performance in smallville! It was brilliant. And justice league of course. My question is: What was the hardest thing you encountered in your roll/getting/preparing of Lex and how did you face it? Thanks!

just thinking if i could actually pull it off. i was worried. and would i look like the dude from goonies when i shaved my head.

Congrats on Back in Day. Gonna watch it this weekend. I also want to commend you on having the coolest pad on MTV's cribs. Unlike some of the other places they've show, yours looked lived in.

Now my question is: Has there any been any role you went out for that you didn't get?

funny story or long story longer... Sandra Bullock came up to me at a Kings game and said " you are so funny" and i said "what movie did you see me in" and she said "cribs". haha. anyway.. thanks for checking the movie out this weekend. i'll hold you to that. i have been up for many many roles that i didn't get. Saving Private Ryan, Good Will Hunting, and millions of others. But i was lex luthor so i ain't complaning. hahah

Which one is harder to play: love, fight or hate scenes?

love. for sure. always feel stupid gazing into someones eyes who doesn't really love you.

What was your first impression of Tom Welling?

geniuine. at first....haha

How was the transition from actor to director?

I have the attention span of a fruit fly. i like to mix things up. i'm pretty decent at a lot of things, but not great at anything. haha

Michael, do you know if there will be a Back in The Day DVD and Soundtrack?

hell yes! i made sure of it! with loads of extra crap. so much fun. if you go see it in theaters, stay for the credits. 4 minutes of outtakes. I love when comedies do that. i want to see that crap. i'm a fan. and we will have an independent soundtrack for all the indie bands. and all the money will go directly to them. quick shout out to MOCK ORANGE from indiana.

Just finished Back in The Day, I did see the credits! I also love when movies do that. It's so funny! Loved seeing you be acting and directing at the same time! A man with many hats.

you're too kind

sweetheart

Hey that's what they keep telling me, lol Can't wait to see you in August at Wizard World San Antonio!

:)

Is there audio commentary on the DVD? I love audio commentaries. Especially the Psych ones on the DVD sets. Loved the ones you did for Smallville.

yes. morena, harland, isaiah and i all did commentary.

hell yes

Graduate of Castle here,

Even though I graduated a year too soon to be directly involved with the filming, I wanna say thanks for continuing to give back to the community you grew up in and remembering where you came from. I met you a long time ago with Mrs. Godeke and you were such a class act and humble. Way to put the burgh on the map!

Hm question. What do you miss most from small town Indiana?

HEY CASTLE!!!!! that's exactly what i wanted to do. I wanted people to see where I grew up and admire what it's really like to grow up in a small town. i loved giving back. but really, it was my home that gave back. too damn generous.

you have kissed both Kristin Kreuk and my gf. you lucky basterd. does this make you my arch nemesis?

does it? haha

Favorite place to go to dinner and what do you order?

anywhere with steak. and mashed potatoes.

Hi Michael! First, thanks for getting me through boring chemo treatments (Smallville episodes)! We are both 80's kids, and are a little (okay a LOT) into music. So, I'm going to ask: What 5 discs would you take with you on a desert island? XoXo from coastal NC

that means the world to me. i hope you are doing great and wish you only health and happiness.

thompson twins greatest hits,michael jackson's greatest hits,hall and oates greatest hits, chicago's greatest hits and the doors greatest hits

Hey Michael! How is it that you are still single? ;) You rock man!

you rock. and why am i single? because i need someone to really knock me off my feet damn it. you know anyone?

do you have any screenwriting advice as well please? thank you! :~)

write what you know. at least at first. enjoy what you write. don't write what you think people will like.

Is Allison Mack as beautiful in person as she was onscreen?

yes. hot. haha

Hello,

I heard you voiced this character on the first Yakuza series. What was the experience?

Thank you

great. love voicing video games. you get to play with yourself. i mean when you are actually playing the game... you know what i'm saying.

Will you be attending any of the Comic Cons/Fan Expos this year?

Sacremento,Orlando Mega Con, Wizard Louisville,
St. Louis,Fan Boy Knoxville,Australia,San Antonio,Vancouver
Toronto

Awesome! Hope to catch you there. :)

don't drop me

Gravity or American Hustle??

gravity. unless i want to sleep.

Hey Michael, I met you a couple years ago at Dragon*Con. I was going to get your autograph, but you were selling them for $20 and I couldn't afford to get it (I was a poor college student.) You told your assistant that you knew me and gave me a free autograph. I just wanted to thank you for being awesome and making my experience enjoyable. Keep up the good work. If you ever come back to Dragon Con, I can finally give you the $20 I owe you haha

you owe me nothing. you're devotion as a fan is plenty. seriously. they make those rules, but i always find a way to break them with special cases. because i'm so special. :))))))

Met you at a party back in 91 I think...I went to Reitz same years you were at Castle (nobody's perfect). I live in FL now but flew back to watch the premiere with a friend (both of us Smallville fans), wanted to just say fantastic piece of cinema, and ask you: Evansville's West side -- Great part of town or Greatest?

good sense of humor. i had a pal that went there. thanks for flying back. what a stud. pretty damn great

Between being an actor, director, producer, and writer, what role do you find to be the most difficult?

individually... they are all difficult. but when you do them all at the same time.... that's a real bitch! Back in the Day was a handful and it was the first time doing all of those things together. but wouldn't trade it for the world. the next project i think i'll just direct and maybe play a smaller role if any. I really enjoyed just the directing aspect on those few days where I only had to direct.

was there really no alternative to shaving your head?

none. no choice. i was always worried whether it would grow back or not. thank god it did. i'm hairy

Why did you leave Smallville?

my contract ended. and i wanted to go and make movies and have hair. haha

DC or Marvel?!

tough one. love lex but love stan lee. he did say i was the best lex.

STAN LEE COMPLIMENTED YOU!? faint

You could totally play a Warren Worthington III or Bobby Drake.

yes. check out the pic i have on twitter. from a while back. yeah!

Hi Michael, I guess the character of the questions will depend on what you're wearing right now...so assuming you're decent...here goes...what's the best AND the worst movie soundtrack ever that's left a lasting impression on you and why?

caddy shack is great. so is footloose and breakfast club. worst? hmm. probably and remake of those movies.

Favorite and least favorite high school teacher?

loved em all. mrs. rowe. mr. morrow. mr. raymond. all great peeps. mrs. skinner.... hola senorita.

Hi Michael!

Thanks for doing this ama.

What is your personal favorite episode or The Flash moment from Justice League / Justice League Unlimited?

Also - it was just announced today that Lex Luthor is going to be a member of the DCU Justice League. Thoughts?

when clancy brown and i switched voices in the great brain robbery. what a damn treat. and great direction by andrea romano. she's a gem. always keeps me working and keeps that SAG health insurance going.

Michael, big fan. I saw Back in the Day and loved it. I recently read a tweet of yours that you wanted Leo DiCaprio's Star Wars collection of memorabilia. I've read you have an awesome toy/action figure collection yourself in your home office. Care to share a photo?

gosh. i have so many toys. i'm staring at freddy kruger, edward scissorhands and thinking... aren't i 41 years old? check out my twitter i'll try and post something after the AMA. it's @mrosenbaum711

What is your favorite role to date?

Thanks for doing this ama!

loved Danny in Poolhall Junkies. loved Gill from Hit and Run and certain Jim from BITD... but lex was so dynamic. that's the easy answer. Although i'm really a comedian at heart.

Hello and thanks for doing this AMA!

I really got a kick out of the film Sorority Boys. How did you get along with your 2 other co-stars? Did you guys get into any funny antics behind the scenes?

always got into trouble. i loved when we were in drag and crew guys from other movies saw us from afar...and they would stare. but when we got closer they looked like they were going to shit themselves. it was great. we were not pretty women. nothing like jared leto. and i love reuniting with harland williams for back in the day . he's my pal

Did you ever get a sense why Breaking In seemed to keep getting canceled and uncanceled and changing times?

never know what happens. you just show up to work, hit your mark and try to be funny. great fun though on that project.

Hi do you have any Directorial advice??? :~)

hmm. i just got so much advice from other directors but i would say BE PREPARED. and communicate and do whatever you can to get what you want on screen. And be one step ahead on every shot. know what you are going to do next.

I know you're a huge fan of the NHL, what other professional sports do you enjoy watching?

anything really. love sports. but hockey number 1

If you could choose 5 guests (from any point in time) to join you fora dinner party, who would you choose & why?

Chris Farley Jim Morrison Dudley Moore Morrisey Bette Davis

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ONLY hang around people that make you happy. People that lift you up. Stay clear from Debbie Downers. And only do things that make you happy. If you can do that... merrily, merrily, merrily..

Im having pizza for dinner right now, its 7pm Scotland time dude. Whats your favorite pizza toppings?

Ive got chicken,bacon,bbq sauce, peppers going on right now!! Yeah!!

Paula Thunder

hey girlfriend. you know i love just pepperoni or do you not?

I am such a huge 90s fan, and I feel that you really spoke to me with all the 90s nostalgia through the music in Back in the Day. What was your scene in the 90s? How do you feel you represented the 90s in this film?

i love music. mostly 80's and 90's, but i really wanted to give an energy to the movie and with songs like "sex and candy", "in the meantime" and "more human than human"... those were my favorites back then. They just speak to me like I'm assuming they spoke to you. Radical.

Hey Michael, big fan of your work in Smallville, and Justice League! You were consistently the highlights of both shows. My question(s) for you is this:

What ran through your mind when you were asked to come back for the series finale?

And how did you think the series as a whole turned out, as far as Clark and Lex's journey towards their respective roles in the world?

thanks again. i'm eating mexican food right now btw. just thought i'd say that. anyway...i had too. the fans wanted it. gotta make your fans happy. and i didn't want to hear "why didn't you go back" when i was 80 and dying. the series put me on the map. i'm forever indebted. it was a nice ending. It was no Breaking Bad, but what really is? that's my fave. haha

How did you feel about Back In The Day being the movie for your directorial debut? Also, you seem to be heavily invested in movies at the moment, but will we ever see you back on TV?

love tv. but i get offered a lot of crap. the best part of being on a successful series like smallville is that now i can be patient and do what i want. i'm very luck. i just auditioned for a Scorsese pilot. I would do that in a heartbeat. I just don't want to do NCIS Nebraska. not that it would be bad. just not what i want to do.

Your favourite line/moment in your beautiful short "Ghild"?

"i'm bigger than you. I'll throw you threw the roof". you can watch GHILD for free online ya know. ghild.com

Hey Michael! First off I would like to say my wife and I are huge fans of you from Smallville! My question for you is this. In Season 2 was Helen out to betray Lex the entire time or did she make the decision as a result of Lex coming clean about stealing the blood from her lab? I thought maybe that made her hate Lex and turn on him or maybe she was just playing the whole time.

playing him like everyone else in the world. poor lex. no wonder he had to get rid of em all. haha. EVIL!!

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love hamming it up. love all of them. my fave is ARTHUR. the dudley more one. and john malkovich

Is there any country/place/destination which you would like to visit, that you haven't already?

spain. iceland. krypton.

What other movies/projects do you have coming soon? I want to see you do a villain again, no one beats your Lex Luthor.

tell zack. much love. oh.... wait til you see THE NERDIST later today. i'm on it. i think you will all love. fun little sketch we did.

When the heck are you coming back to the UK? Get your ass to Scotland already dude.

fine. jeez

When will you come to Brazil? We have amazing places for you to enjoy

i keep asking morena baccarin to take me there. i really would love to come out there.

What do you think your life would be like if you hadn't made it big? And just stayed home?

i'd be a DJ at a roller rink or a sports announcer.or i'd still be sacking groceries at wesselmans.

Michael,

• If you had to choose to be either Lex Luthor or The Flash in real life, which character would you pick and why?
• There was a lot of rumor going around that you would be picked as Lex in the Superman v. Batman movie. Would that have been a role you'd be interests in reprising?
• I host a podcast that has celebrity guests talk about hobbies and and things they nerd out about outside of their careers. Would you be interested in being a part of the show for an episode?

Thank you and look forward to your answers!

flash. he's so fast. get where i wanted so quickly. and he can travel in time. right?

First, I'm a big fan. I believe Smallville suffered after you left and there was a void that just couldn't be filled.

Were there any actors that helped influence your Lex Luthor?

Also, how was it working on Always Sunny?

my relationship with my father helped. hahaahaha. sunny was amazing. great people. funny ass people.

Hello from Scotland g Do you have any other films in the pipeline that you would like to make..

a few. deciding in the next month on what i'm doing to direct next.. thanks for inquiring

huge fan! I have many things I want to ask but honestly, why does it seem like everyone that played on Smallville has acted as if the show was a burden? You're pretty much the only one who hasn't. Also, why doesn't anyone interact with Tom anymore? Congrats in the movie! Can't wait to see it!

i complained sometimes. everyone does. but i'm sincerely appreciative at the same time. everyone has bad days at the office. i guess ours is just more public. Tom just does his own thing. that's okay. i mean we were working 12 hours a day together for many years. i know that when they called wrap.... the last people i wanted to hang with was my cast. haha. but we still talk. good dude

Holy HAIR! I'm loving the new do~ I can't wait to see you in "Back In The Day." Is this your directorial debut as well? You were always my favorite actor on Smallville:) [I'm hoping for your Zack Snyder call as well!]

first time directing a movie, yes. and thanks for that.