Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice undoubtedly shifted the film industry for years. From changing Zack Snyder’s career forever to rocking the DC film slate, we still feel those effects.
One of the people who had to deal with the fallout of the film was actor Jesse Eisenberg, who starred as the villain, Lex Luthor. And, while speaking with Dax Shepard on Armchair Expert, Eisenberg detailed the film’s reception and how it hurt him.
“I was in this Batman movie, and the Batman movie was so poorly received, and I was so poorly received. I’ve never said this before, and it’s kind of embarrassing to admit, but I genuinely think it actually hurt my career in a real way because I was poorly received in something so public. I’ve been in poorly received things that just don’t see the light of day, and for the most part, no one knows, but this was so public, and I don’t read notices or reviews or movie press or anything, so I was unaware of how poorly it was received.”
This allowed the actor to look outwards and examine Hollywood: “In the industry, if you’re in a huge, huge movie and not seen as good, the people who are choosing who to put next in their movie are just not gonna like you. You’re just associated with something…I loved my role, and I loved the movie, doing it and everything, so I feel like [I have] just myself to blame… so it did feel like I had to climb out again.”
Eisenberg reprised the role in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, appearing in a post-credit scene. He then directed his first film, the black comedy When You Finish Saving the World. He directed, wrote, and starred in this year’s A Real Pain.
SEE ALSO: Batman v Superman: Revisiting the Misunderstood Masterpiece
As for Lex Luthor, Nicholas Hoult will take on the role in James Gunn’s Superman, and you can check out the newly-released first trailer here.
Superman tells the story of Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.
Superman stars David Corenswet as Superman/Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern/Guy Gardner, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, María Gabriela De Faría as The Engineer, Sean Gunn as Maxwell Lord, Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., Milly Alcock as Supergirl, Wendell Pierce as Perry White, Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant, Christopher McDonald as Ron Troupe, Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell as Jonathan and Martha Kent and Alan Tudyk in a mystery role.
