Jesse Eisenberg Reflects on ‘Batman v. Superman’ Backlash
Recently, Jesse Eisenberg talked candidly about the effects of his role as Lex Luthor in ‘Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice’ on his career. The 41-year-old actor discussed the conflicting reviews of the 2016 movie and his part in it on the Armchair Expert podcast’s recent December episode. Even though the film made $874 million worldwide, Eisenberg acknowledged that the unfavourable reaction affected his career for a long time.
He clarified that having a large role in a poorly received movie in such a public manner has a big effect on his career. Although Eisenberg acknowledged that it was “embarrassing to admit,” he believed that his performance’s negative reviews made it more difficult for him to get future parts. “The industry tends to avoid casting the actor in other high-profile projects when a big movie underperforms,” he said. ‘Batman v. Superman’ placed his performance under intense scrutiny, which he hadn’t completely comprehended at the time because he had chosen not to read reviews or press coverage, in contrast to smaller, less noticeable movies that might fail with little attention.
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Although Eisenberg enjoyed filmmaking and adored his character, he was personally disappointed by the reception of the picture. He accepted responsibility for the incident and described it as “depressing.”
Eisenberg also talked about his most recent work, ‘A Real Pain’, a movie that he wrote, directed, and starred in, on the same podcast episode. The film centres on David and Benji, two cousins who get back together to honour their grandmother by taking a Holocaust tour in Poland. The novel examines their relationship against the backdrop of family history as old tensions reappear. Eisenberg explained how the storyline was sparked by his own experience during a trip to Venezuela with his spouse, where he felt alienated from the people and thought the idea would make a compelling movie.
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The critically acclaimed film ‘A Real Pain’ is currently showing in theatres. It has garnered four Golden Globe nominations, including two for Eisenberg’s script and lead performance. Additionally, the movie was listed among the best 10 2024 films by the American Film Institute.
–Farheen Ali