Feb 10, 2011 by Brian Gallagher

Michael Rosenbaum Turns Down Smallville Finale

Michael Rosenbaum will not return as Lex Luthor for Smallville's series finale
Michael Rosenbaum will not return as Lex Luthor for Smallville's series finale
We reported earlier this week that Smallville will end its 10-season run with a two-hour finale on Friday, May 13, and, apparently, Lex Luthor will not be making an appearance. Michael Rosenbaum has turned down numerous offers to return as Lex Luthor in the series finale and it seems there is little hope he will return. Here's what an inside source had to say about Michael Rosenbaum.

"He has put the show behind him and moved on. He's pursuing his other creative outlet [writing]. By all indications, he is not going to be involved."


The offer still stands for Michael Rosenbaum to return, although production wraps in six or seven weeks, with only three episodes left to be shot, including the two-hour finale. Michael Rosenbaum portrayed Lex Luthor for the first seven seasons of Smallville.

Apart from seeing the Man of Steel finally put on the suit and fly like he means it, a re-appearance by Rosenbaum is the top request by fans looking for creative closure in Smallville's final season. Rosenbaum played Superman's arch rival for seven seasons on the show and Smallville ends its epic 10-year run this May. Producers have publicly taken a "you'll have to tune in to find out" stance when asked whether Rosenbaum will show up, all the while naturally hoping the actor will change his mind.

When we spoke to series star Tom Welling at Comic-Con last year, he told us Michael Rosenbaum's return was necessary to create a proper ending.

"It's imperative that Lex return for the climax of the series."


As of now, it doesn't seem that will happen, but we'll be sure to keep you posted if anything changes regarding Michael Rosenbaum's return to Smallville.


Sources: Entertainment Weekly

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Comments (77)

  1. Dan

    I despise EW on a number of levels. Their info is blegh, as with their 'teasers' and 'clips'.

    1 year agoby @dan1Flag

  2. Lane

    And this is the part where I never trust anything EW says as "fact" ever again.

    1 year agoby @lane1Flag

  3. CUPID

    @ejk1 Thats some good news after that smallville earlier tonight.

    1 year agoby @cupidFlag

  4. ejk1

    IGN has a report that Rosenbaum has signed on. The report comes courtesy of TVLINE.com. This pretty much all the discussion.

    1 year agoby @ejk1Flag

  5. gandoff2169

    He should concider what it would do to his future in the business to those who made his carear on this show. If not for Smallville, he would have been remembered for a crapy comedy movie where he dressed in drag to join a girls frat. I myself, would not want to see the last episode with out him in it. He dosnt have to be the main villian. But a major cameo the last few minutes would be great. But I see that he may have already did it, and this is a work. Couse as season 10 opened up, it showed a year in the future, and in the world of TV, a season is a year in the future. So he could have did it, and this be a work. So if not, then they could simply use the shots made for the season preimier with him in the closing, but would be better with a fresh Lex spot, where he is at a press confrence stating his return from "vaction"...

    1 year agoby @gandoff2169Flag

  6. JLA20

    I would be really pissed if he didn't at least make a cameo in the last episode. he would be nothing without this show.

    1 year agoby @JLA20Flag

  7. Disciple419

    Rosenbaum was the best actor on this show. They should have ending it years ago. Last weeks episode was a Matrix spoof. Smallville was great with the best friends/future enemies plot line. The only thing that could make the finale worthwhile is if Lex returns. He's a good actor but I haven't seen him anything since Smallville. What opportunities does he have?

    1 year agoby @disciple419Flag

  8. Lane

    Hey, that was a funny f*ckin movie. :P

    1 year agoby @lane1Flag

  9. Jimthar

    ha he said no to the smallville finale but yes to that movie where he dressed up as a womam. that amuses me.

    1 year agoby @jimtharFlag

  10. Lane

    This may interest the boys more. Michael talking about Erica and Kristin :P

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RYuYcRRkFs&feature=related

    1 year agoby @lane1Flag

  11. Lane

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHuIGkfkh_4&feature=related

    Atleast he has a good sense of humor in real life, I will give him that. :)

    1 year agoby @lane1Flag

  12. Lane

    Here's a good example of what he looks like with hair:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93leNeZKVOw

    1 year agoby @lane1Flag

  13. Lane

    @Supes: He definitely would do well, but I'm with the majority of Smallville fans who think seeing any cast member without all the rest in one movie would be weird and hard to get used to.

    Plus, Michael has said in several interviews, that one of THE dumbest reasons for why he won't continue playing Lex is because he hated having to shave his head. He's a pretty boy with nice hair IRL. -_-

    1 year agoby @lane1Flag

  14. Lane

    Best Spacey as Lex moments:

    "Your-not-seeing-the-big-picture-here."

    "Who's kid is that?" ... "Richard's" ... "Are you sure?" (I loved the way he said "sure," lol.)

    1 year agoby @lane1Flag

  15. Dan

    So I think someone said on this thread something about Rosenbaum playing Lex in the new movie series, what do you guys think of that prospect? Would he transition well to the big screen, or stay at Smallville?

    1 year agoby @dan1Flag

  16. Zyclops

    michael resenbaum potrayal of lex luthor is the best of all. that version of lex is the best of all

    1 year agoby @zyclopsFlag

  17. Lane

    "No Rosenbaum (sounds funny saying that)..."

    Probably because there'll be No Rosenbaum in the finale? Just my guess.

    And I liked Spacey, don't get me wrong. He was just, as you said... No Rosenbaum. He was definitely better than Hackman, but that wasn't really hard to accomplish.

    "Once you go Rosenbaum, you can never go back." - And that is totally a word, lol.

    1 year agoby @lane1Flag

  18. The Narrator: The Better Man

    Thanks @Lane. I'll look into it. And I felt Spacey, despite his over-exagerativeness (that is now a word), did fairly well in the role. No Rosenbaum (sounds funny saying that), but fun.

    1 year agoby @narratorFlag

  19. Lane

    BTW, I just read on IGN that Michael actually has a small, but possibly recurring role on a new comedy show. Here's the link:

    http://tv.ign.com/articles/114/1149144p1.html

    1 year agoby @lane1Flag

  20. Lane

    I found it funny how not even Spacey could out-do Michael's portrayal of Lex.

    If only he hadn't been playing Hackman playing Lex playing Spacey...

    1 year agoby @lane1Flag

  21. Lane

    Yes, we still love the little fella *pats Dave on head*

    1 year agoby @lane1Flag

  22. The Narrator: The Better Man

    @Supes, I think Lex's character is so many things, I can't challenge myself to embody his character with one word. Lol. But yeah, seems that way from word of mouth. Still, his acting is great, or he does embody Lex to the tee. Either way, he gave me my definitive Lex, so I'm thankful for that.

    @Lane, yeah, Dave does that sometimes. But we still love him, right Dave?

    1 year agoby @narratorFlag

  23. Lane

    Again, @Supes. Stole my thoughts, lol.

    I've already gone on enough of a rant as it is though, so :P

    1 year agoby @lane1Flag

  24. Lane

    That's exactly what I was thinking @Narrator. I just didn't want to seem like I was being "argumentative." Not to mention the fact that Dave completely contradicted himself by saying he hated "Rosenbaum", then went on to say he didn't know anything about his acting or real life.

    1 year agoby @lane1Flag

  25. Dan

    I find it an interesting parallel then, that Rosenbaum as a real person seems to have the same size ego of that of the character he plays in Smallville concerning whether he'd return or not.

    1 year agoby @dan1Flag

  26. The Narrator: The Better Man

    P.S. Went on IMDB, and saw that Rosenbaum is signed on for an episode this season, episode 20 to be exact. While this is probably a rumor, given the fact that IMDB almost always jumps the gun on things, it gives slight hope to some I'm sure.

    1 year agoby @narratorFlag

  27. The Narrator: The Better Man

    @Dave... to reitterate what Lane said, I think it's fail of you to say you don't like Rosenbaum when you've never seen the show. He inhabits Lex to the tee, and showcases all the convicting emotions within him perfectly. I use words for a purpose, and he does it perfectly. While I, myself, don't know much about him in real life, I'll hold off personal judgement till later.

    1 year agoby @narratorFlag

  28. Lane

    Oh, right... he's "writing" stuff. Silly me.

    1 year agoby @lane1Flag

  29. Daveactor7

    @Lane its cool. I dont really know about Rosenbaum in real life though. Thanks for your input on him

    1 year agoby @daveactor7Flag

  30. Lane

    And that was the point I was trying to make earlier @Ejk. If he's so damn busy, why the hell isn't he accepting what is being offered to him?

    Its why I say he seems like he's "too good" for Smallville.

    1 year agoby @lane1Flag

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