Jesse Eisenberg Claims Razzie Win Derailed Acting Career
The actor stated that a Razzie award for his role in 'Batman v Superman' led him to focus on directing.
Jesse Eisenberg has stated that winning a Razzie award for his performance in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" negatively impacted his acting career, leading him to shift his focus towards directing. Eisenberg received the Razzie for worst supporting actor in 2017 for his portrayal of Lex Luthor in the 2016 film.
Eisenberg, 43, spoke at the BFI London Film Festival on Sunday, explaining that he began directing as a way to "keep [his] career afloat" after the negative reception indicated by the award. He described the acting industry as "unstable" and "awful," characterized by a constant need for actors to be on an upward trajectory or risk becoming "yesterday's news."
"Listen, a lot of it just came from fear," Eisenberg told Variety. "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."
He further elaborated that the industry communicates its preferences, and actors must adapt. "The industry tells you what it wants, and if you want a career in the arts, you have to follow the things that you’re being told are liked," he said. "And so the industry tells you what it wants, and if you want a career in the arts, you have to follow the things that you’re being told are liked."
Eisenberg is currently promoting his latest directorial effort, A24's musical comedy "The Debut," which stars Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti. His previous directorial work includes "When You Finish Saving the World." His 2024 film, "A Real Pain," co-starring Kieran Culkin, earned Eisenberg an Academy Award nomination for best original screenplay.
Despite the shift, Eisenberg has appeared in other films since "Batman v Superman," including "Now You See Me 2," "Zombieland: Double Tap," and "Zack Snyder's Justice League."