Jesse Eisenberg finds himself reflecting on his portrayal of Lex Luthor, a character that, despite his best efforts, left a lingering shadow over his career. During a sit-down with Dax Shepard on the popular podcast 'Armchair Expert,' the talented actor delved into the public's chilly reception of 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice' and his own portrayal of the Superman adversary.
"I was part of this Batman film, which tanked in the eyes of the audience, and in turn, so did I," Eisenberg confessed, a hint of embarrassment creeping into his voice. "I've never disclosed this before, but I genuinely believe it harmed my career significantly. Being publicly lambasted in such a high-profile project left a mark."
He continued, painting a picture of Hollywood's harsh realities, "In this industry, if you're featured in a colossal film and deemed less than stellar, those who decide on future casting calls tend to skip over you."
Eisenberg, who garnered an Oscar nomination for his role in 'The Social Network,' elaborated on his mixed bag of projects, revealing that even amidst successes, there were undertakings that failed to see the limelight, remaining mostly unknown to the masses.
"This particular experience, however, was so widely scrutinized, and since I don't immerse myself in critics' notices or movie reviews, I was blissfully unaware of the scale of its failure," he admitted.
Despite the deluge of criticism, Eisenberg maintained his affection for the role, stating, "I cherished playing the character and the entire movie-making process. So, I blame no one but myself. It wasn't a case of miscasting; I just feel I didn't quite meet expectations. It felt like I had to dig myself out of a hole."
"It was discouraging, sure, but in a way, I'm always somewhat melancholic. It was just, 'Oh, well, of course, I had this amazing chance, and of course, it didn't pan out.' A bleak outlook, indeed."
The 2016 Zack Snyder-directed film, featuring Ben Affleck as Batman and Henry Cavill as Superman, raked in over $873 million globally but garnered a lukewarm response from fans, even earning four Razzie Awards, including Worst Screen Combo for Affleck and Cavill, and Worst Supporting Actor for Eisenberg's Lex Luthor.
On the 'Happy Sad Confused' podcast, Snyder was quizzed about rumors suggesting the studio had considered Tom Hanks or Adam Driver for the role of Lex Luthor. "I did chat with Adam over the phone, yes," he recalled of the rumored castings. "I even discussed it with Leonardo DiCaprio, who had some fantastic ideas during our meeting."
"Ultimately, I think he hesitated, saying, 'Eh, I don't know.' But he was incredibly insightful about the material and character," the director shared. "In many ways, he was the one who suggested the idea of Superman battling the Justice League at some point."
Affleck has also been vocal about his feelings towards the film, emphasizing his love for it and its status as a career highlight despite the editorial backlash. "It was an intriguing film, judged not primarily on its execution but rather on its tone," he said in a 2016 interview.
Meanwhile, Eisenberg has kept busy, penning, directing, and starring in 'A Real Pain,' alongside Kieran Culkin, and wrapping up filming on 'Now You See Me 3.'
