Playing Lex Luthor Ruined My Career
In Hollywood, sometimes the recognition you least expect can reshape your trajectory. For actor Jesse Eisenberg, a major award did more than just bring home a trophy; it seemed to act as a pivotal turning point in his career.
During a recent appearance at the BFI London Film Festival, Eisenberg opened up about the sting of his Razzie Award win for his role as Lex Luthor in Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. He argued that this negative recognition had a profound impact on his ability to secure studio roles moving forward.
“Listen, a lot of it just came from fear,” Eisenberg explained. “I couldn’t get into movie studio parts anymore because I had won a Raspberry Award from being in the Batman movie… and I saw the trajectory. So I was like, I’ve got to direct movies. That’s why I started writing them, just to kind of keep my career afloat, really.”
The film, which performed strongly at the box office, took home four Razzie awards overall. Interestingly, the other three awards went to Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck for worst screenplay, worst sequel, and worst screen combination, highlighting a comedic division among the accolades.
Eisenberg suggested that the award reflected a broader industry bias. He posited that the system tells you what it wants from you. If you are self-aware, you realize that not being cast in certain types of movies, such as superhero franchises, signals a lack of desire from the industry. He felt that the award was a clear indicator that the industry did not want him in those roles, leading him to pursue creative outlets that aligned with his true interests.
Instead of staying confined to blockbuster franchises, Eisenberg leaned into other projects. He appeared in sequels like Now You See Me 2 and Zombieland: Double Tap, and starred in the television series Fleishman Is in Trouble. More recently, he has transitioned into directing and writing, tackling projects such as When You Finish Saving the World, A Real Pain, and The Debut.
This shift has also led to exciting new ventures. A24 has recently partnered with Eisenberg for an untitled series project that promises to dive into cultural conflict. The series will follow an 18-year-old girl in the fall of 2002 at the beginning of the culture wars where new ideas and relationships challenge her beliefs.
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