With Reporting by Josh Horowitz

Back when we first found out that Jesse Eisenberg would be playing Lex Luthor in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," something seemed wrong. It had nothing to do with the fact that Eisenberg was not bald, or that he was young, or that immediate comparisons to his "Social Network" performance were springing to mind.

Nope. None of that. The only problem was that Jesse Eisenberg wasn't Bryan Cranston.

So many fans wanted to see the erstwhile Walter "Heisenberg" White take on the role of Superman's number one nemesis, and so many fans were convinced it would happen. Rumor after rumor after rumor emerged that it was going to happen. But it didn't. The role went to Eisenberg, an Oscar-nominated actor and an inarguably gifted young man — but an inarguably gifted young man not named Bryan Cranston.

What happened? Why no Cranston? Did Warner Bros. knock on his door and he simply never answered? Or did they never knock at all?

Finally, the truth comes out: Cranston revealed to MTV News at San Diego Comic-Con that there was never a single conversation between himself and WB, and that all the talk about him playing Lex was nothing more than "fan-driven" hype.

"They're thinking, 'Who could play Lex Luthor?' Who is bald and can be menacing? Oh! Walter White! We can get that guy,'" he laughed. "But it's not very inspiring casting."

Maybe not, Bryan, but it's awesome casting, and while we're pumped up to see what Eisenberg brings to the role, we'll always lament that we never got your take on Lex. But maybe there's another opportunity here. Cranston's "Argo" pal Ben Affleck is the new Batman, after all, and Cranston once lent his voice to Commissioner Gordon in "Batman: Year One." Let's get that fan-driven hype train back on the right track, people!