Why did Michael Rosenbaum decide to leave Smallville after playing the role of Lex Luthor for seven successful seasons? In this article, we’ll find out the reasons behind his decision.
In 2001, when Smallville’s first season aired, Michael Rosenbaum took on the role of Lex Luthor, Superman’s archenemy, following the footsteps of actors like Gene Hackman and John Shea.
Throughout the seven seasons of Smallville, viewers saw the friendship between Michael Rosenbaum’s character and Tom Welling’s Clark Kent deteriorate as the villainous playboy gained more power.
The Reasons Why Michael Rosenbaum Left Smallville
Smallville was one of the best TV shows in the 2000s, following Clark Kent’s life before he became Superman, the powerful superhero in the DC Universe.
Initially, Clark and Lex Luthor’s friendship seemed promising, but it turned bitter as the show progressed. Michael Rosenbaum played a significant role as Clark’s adversary, Lex Luthor, in the first seven seasons of the show.
So, let’s find out why Michael Rosenbaum decided to leave Smallville. In a 2016 interview with Empire, he said that Warner Brothers president, John Roth, wanted him to stay for a few more seasons, but he thought it was fair to move on from his role as Lex after seven years and try something new.
He didn’t want to sign a two-year extension for the character’s bald look because he had already surpassed his original six-year contract.
After playing the character for seven years, he felt it was enough time, and he didn’t want to shave his head for another two years just for the role.
After Millar and Gough left the show, Michael Rosenbaum, who had committed to staying until Season 7, also decided to leave. He realized that the character he played, Lex Luthor, didn’t have much more to contribute to the story. He felt that this was his last chance to move on since they had run out of new stories to tell.
Even though he left the show, he didn’t criticize the writers and producers who continued with the project after Millar and Gough departed. The three of them discussed the situation and agreed that it was the right time to move on because their creative paths had naturally diverged.
In the finale of Season 7, titled “Arctic,” the character Lex Luthor was written out of the show, based on the actor’s choice. The episode showed Luthor facing Clark in the Castle of Solitude, as his character had become more evil throughout the season.
Lex begins to destroy the Fortress because he views Clark as a danger to mankind, along with himself as its savior. The two ex-friends are buried in cold rubble as he confesses his love for Clark as if it were a brotherly bond.
Since the show’s creators have been seeking ways to spice up the narrative and present fresh difficulties to Superman in what may be the show’s final season, rumors of Rosenbaum’s departure have been circulating. Doomsday, who is infamous for murdering Superman in the DC comic book Superman universe, is one of the new antagonists.
FAQs
Who is Michael Rosenbaum?
Michael Rosenbaum is an American actor and comedian. He was born on July 11, 1972, in Oceanside, New York. Rosenbaum is best known for his portrayal of Lex Luthor, the main antagonist, in the TV series Smallville, which aired from 2001 to 2011.
Why did Michael Rosenbaum leave Smallville?
Michael Rosenbaum left Smallville after the seventh season because he felt his character had said everything and it was the right time to move on. He didn’t want to sign a two-year extension for the bald look, and they had run out of new stories for his character.
