Jesse Eisenberg Says That 'Batman v. Superman' Stopped Getting Him Roles

Jesse Eisenberg stated that he stopped getting roles in major Hollywood productions after receiving the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Lex Luthor in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). During a conversation at the London Film Festival, the actor revealed that the negative reception to Zack Snyder's film contributed to his decision to pursue a career as a screenwriter and director.

“Look, a lot of it came from fear,” Eisenberg said, explaining the change in his career path. “I couldn’t get roles in studio films anymore because I’d won a Razzie Award for [being in] the Batman movie… and I saw the trajectory that was going to follow.”

The actor also described the instability of the film industry and the constant pressure to maintain a rising career. According to him, the lack of opportunities can cause professionals to be quickly forgotten by Hollywood.

“If you’re an actor, you’re constantly panicking, thinking, ‘Am I on the rise or on the fall?’ Because there’s no stable level,” he explained. Eisenberg added that, being a paranoid person, he could anticipate what he considered a possible fall in his career.

It was in this context that he decided to expand his work behind the scenes. "So I thought, 'I need to direct films.' That's why I started writing them, just to keep my career afloat, really," he stated.

In a conversation hosted by the British Film Institute (BFI), Eisenberg also commented on the main lesson he learned from the experience: not to insist on seeking roles in superhero films when the industry shows no interest in casting him in that type of production.

“The industry says what it wants about you,” the actor declared. For him, the negative feedback indicated that the studios didn't see him as someone who should remain in that cinematic universe.

"And you know, it's the failed actor who says, 'No, I want to be in more movies like this.' It's not going to happen, they don't want you there, and they wouldn't have given you a Razzie Award if they did. That's an award for bad acting," he stated.

Eisenberg concluded that, in order to build a career in the arts, it is necessary to understand how the market reacts to one's work and to adapt one's professional choices to the opportunities available.

Eisenberg is riding high with The Debut, a musical comedy he wrote, directed, and also stars in, alongside Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti. The film, it's worth remembering, is a strong contender for the 2027 awards season.