May 1, 2008 by Brian Gallagher

Michael Rosenbaum Leaves Smallville

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The CW Network has informed us that actor Michael Rosenbaum is leaving the hit show Smallville. We have also been provided with a letter written by Rosenbaum himself, to the fans of his Lex Luthor character and the show itself. Here is the letter in its entirety:

Dear Smallville Fans,

Well, it's been seven wonderful years. Your support is what has made Smallville so successful, and I appreciate you all more than you know.

That being said, it is time for me to start the next chapter of my life and career. I hope that I gave you some enjoyment over the years, and that you found my portrayal of Lex Luthor to be satisfying. I am truly grateful, as Smallville fans are the best fans out there. I sincerely hope that you will continue to follow my career through my hair growth period and beyond.

I'm very excited about what the future holds, but certainly, Smallville will always be a part of me. I will definitely miss the greatest crew in the world, and the wonderful cast that has been like a family to me.

Thank you Al and Miles for creating the show. Thank you writers, producers, directors and editors. Thanks Tollin, Robbins and Davola for being there for the pilot. Thank you Peter Roth for employing me for ten years. Lisa Lewis, I miss you already. John Glover, thanks for helping me feel more comfortable touching other actors, while acting. Bizarre, but helpful.

Mostly, I want to thank Greg Beeman for directing the "Oh Sherry" video, by Steve Perry, back in the 80's.

Thanks crew. Thanks fans. Thanks Smallville.

I love you all,

Michael Rosenbaum

Smallville executive producers Darren Swimmer, Todd Slavkin, Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson issued a joint statement regarding Rosenbaum's departure.

"It has been an honor and pleasure to work with Michael for the past six seasons. He is one of the best actors on television and has never failed to bring a new layer to the character of Lex Luthor in every episode. While Michael won't be a series regular and we won't have the pleasure of working with him on a weekly basis this fall, we like to think that we haven't seen the last of Lex Luthor. Stay tuned."

In order to replace Lex Luthor's character, Smallville will be adding on two new villains for the eighth season of the show, Doomsday and an untitled female antagonist. Casting for these roles are under way, but in the mean time, here are brief descriptions of the characters that were provided to us:

Doomsday: In season eight, Clark will face his ultimate challenge with the appearance of the legendary, unstoppable destroyer Doomsday, who appears on Smallville for the first time. As comic book fans know, Doomsday is notorious for being the only character in the DC Comics universe to have killed Superman.

Female villain: Doomsday won't be Clark's only nemesis in the upcoming season. The executive producers are tight-lipped about a new female villain they will be introducing, but they can say she will be familiar to many fans and will set her sights on Clark in ways Lex never could. Intelligent, brilliantly manipulative, and dangerously sinister, our gorgeous new villain has one more weapon in her arsenal: Her mutual attraction with Clark may prove to be as deadly as kryptonite for him.

We'll be sure to keep you posted on any new Smallville developments as soon as we get more information.


Sources: CW Network

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Comments (12)

  1. the Narrator

    will totally miss him. miss him already. he was way combined the luthors of history well. however doomsday in this will be awesome. hope they have super good graphics for him. bet the female villain will be poison iv with kryptonite lipstick.

    5 years agoby @narratorFlag

  2. SAGR8-ONE

    hackman's lex...smart, witty, and humorous....spacey....serious, dark, dry wit, dark humor....rosenbaum, played it very well...combining all qualities of the other portrayals...he will be missed.........BUT....we will always have sorority boys and poohall junkies!

    5 years agoby @moviespace1Flag

  3. Portfan

    There have been two academy award winners play Lex Luthor, and you consider Michael Rosenbaum as one of the greatest to ever play him? He did a great job, but do you really know him for any other job? Gene Hackman and Kevin Spacey have numerous roles that have made them great actors.

    5 years agoby @portfanFlag

  4. LEO: Lord Epsilon Omega

    Wow. This is like if you lost Patrick Stewart to play Captain Picard. It just won't be the same without him.

    5 years agoby @epsalonFlag

  5. keita

    I don't fell like watvhing smallville anymore...

    5 years agoby @keitaFlag

  6. sirmetro

    Oh sh*t

    5 years agoby @sirmetroFlag

  7. Err

    that was pretty sappy, but he was one of the better actors in that show. that douche who played kent couldnt act his way out of a paper bag, as illustrated in the "the fog" remake.

    5 years agoby @err2005Flag

  8. T.Clark

    It won't be the same

    5 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag

  9. scream67

    thank you michael for seven wonderful great season playing lex luthor on smallville.

    5 years agoby @scream67Flag

  10. lightyagami

    it's a huge shame and i will sorely miss his departure as one of the greatest actors to portray lex luthor and my personal favorite but i wish him luck in what his life and carrer hold for him in the future.

    Thanks for Seven Wonderful Seasons Michael.

    5 years agoby @lightyagamiFlag

  11. Brian

    Super bummer.

    5 years agoby @brianFlag

  12. ScottFL386

    What does the comment about the Steve Perry video "Oh Sherrie" have to do with anything....any ideas??

    5 years agoby @scottfl386Flag

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