When talking with Rosenbaum about his role as a teenage Luthor and the choices his character makes that will eventually shape his destiny, it's easy to see the parallels form between his character and the headstrong Skywalker.
"It's this tug of war with this kid who's a lost soul to begin with," Rosenbaum explains. "He's trying to be good, but he knows what he's doing is wrong. Sometimes people have to make these pivotal decisions that change their lives. Obviously, the character of Lex Luthor I'm playing on 'Smallville' is having similar issues. He's destined to be the villain against Superman, but he's trying everything he can to be the good guy. I think that's what Anakin is trying to do. He knows what he's doing is wrong; he feels remorseful. And there's a point when you see this guy who's struggling with his feelings and his emotions with these difficult choices, and then there's this complete transformation in not only the way Anakin looks, but also his eyes -- he's dead behind them. He's given up. He thinks that the Council doesn't trust him, or like him and won't give him a chance. "
As an actor, Rosenbaum says he can appreciate the skill and acting performances of the cast onscreen, especially that of Hayden Christensen who both mentally and physically transformed for the role of Darth Vader.
"I got to meet Hayden, and he's the nicest guy I've ever met," Rosenbaum says. "Which is weird because in real life he's this nice, passive innocent kid, and then I see him in the film and he is so intense! It's a very organic performance. Ewan McGregor is also brilliant. And when Natalie Portman cries, I really feel for her. I feel for every one of these characters."
As a long-time Star Wars fan, Rosenbaum isn't shy about showing off his fan pride. On a recent episode of MTV's "Cribs," he showed off his pride-and-joy Master Replica lightsaber by turning on the switch and giving an impromptu demonstration. And at the special MTV TRL screening of Revenge of the Sith, Rosenbaum could be spotted around Skywalker Ranch and in the Stag Theater wearing his Lucasfilm robe, incognito as his own brand of Jedi.
"For the last hour of the film I was hysterical," Rosenbaum confesses. "I was wearing the robe in the screening -- which by the way was a huge hit. I thought people would think I was a nerd -- which I am a giant nerd -- but everyone was coming up to me asking where I got such a cool robe, including Elijah Wood!"
"There were so many emotional moments in this movie for me," Rosenbaum admits. "When Yoda dropped his cane and felt the disturbance with the Jedi, I got sad. But it really hit at the end of the film when we all realize that it's only 20 years from that point when it's all going to start again with A New Hope. I was five years old when A New Hope came out in 1977. I saw it with my mom and now 27 years later, it's all over! All the loose ends were all put together. And it was just overwhelming. Luke and Leia being born. And Anakin becoming Darth Vader. All those things you just dreamed about. "
To read more about Michael Rosenbaum and his role as Lex Luthor, visit the official "Smallville" site here.
