Early Career of Jesse Eisenberg
Jesse Eisenberg is an American actor, author and playwright known for his critically acclaimed roles as Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network, as well as Roger Haven in Adventureland, and Lex Luthor in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Before becoming an actor, Eisenberg first attended New York University and dropped out of his chosen major, Liberal Arts, after one semester. Eisenberg then started performing comedy on stage and in sketch comedy at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York. He was also a member of the comedy group, Outright Rebellion.
Eisenberg was cast in the 2003 film, Roger Dodger in a small role alongside Campbell Scott. Following his successful performance, Eisenberg had a brief stint on TV as a guest on series like Law & Order, an experience he cites as instrumental to his growth as an actor. Eisenberg had spent most of his time up until this point as a theater actor, but this experience altered his perceptions of acting.
The Social Network
In 2010, Eisenberg was cast as Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network, a drama based on the founding of the social media website Facebook. He received critical acclaim for his performance, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, a Golden Globe Award nomination, and winning SAG, BAFTA, and Critic’s Choice awards for his work.
The cast and crew took their roles very seriously and did a great deal of research to bring an accurate portrayal of the story to the screen. Jesse Eisenberg, in particular, gained access to several Social Network executives during his preparation for the role, using their insights as part of his development of the character.
Much of the acclaim for The Social Network was due to the accuracy and attention to detail of the casting. It took much of the storytelling the film contained to make it as powerful as it was. Without Jesse Eisenberg, the portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg may have been inadequate, making the film lack credibility.
Acclaimed Performance
Eisenberg’s portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg was praised by movie critics and fans alike, as he was able to accurately Channel the precociousness and calculative nature of Zuckerberg while making it accessible to the viewer. Eisenberg’s portrayal also helped contextualize the events and characters of the fictional film, making it easier for the audience to process and understand.
The realism of Eisenberg’s performance is also attributed to the mannerism and facial expressions he managed to integrate. He meticulously studied footage of Zuckerberg and perfected facial expressions to bring authenticity to the role.
Staying in Character
Jesse Eisenberg, in promotion of the film, even attended a SXSW music and film festival in Austin, Texas in full character. Wearing a T-shirt, jeans, and a pair of Adidas sneakers, he interacted with festival goers as if he were Zuckerberg himself. He asked for ideas for ways to make his fictional Facebook platform better and also immediately responded to people who had critiques by offering to “work things out.”
Eisenberg’s commitment to taking on the role and bringing it to life resulted in one of the most iconic portrayals of an individual in recent years. The actor showed the importance of staying in character and brought Mark Zuckerberg to the viewers in a realistic and meaningful way.
Rise to Fame
The portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg not only skyrocketed Jesse Eisenberg’s fame, but it also launched his career to new heights. Later on, Eisenberg starred in many other acclaimed works such as adventure-comedy Zombieland, thriller Now You See Me and its sequel, romantic comedy The End of the Tour, and the recently released horror-drama Vivarium.
Eisenberg, who had decided to drop out of college to pursue an acting career, was now recognized around the world as a critically acclaimed actor.
Current Works
Since his breakout role in The Social Network, Eisenberg has pushed his talents to the limit, showcasing his ability to tackle a diverse range of characters in different genres. He has also proven himself as a successful playwright, having written and starred in his own play, The Spoils, which premiered both in London and Off-Broadway.
In 2021, Eisenberg is set to reprise his role as Lex Luthor in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, which is set to be released in the Spring. He is also set to co-star in the upcoming crime drama film Vivarium alongside Imogen Poots.
Continued Commitment
Eisenberg is an actor who always strives to push boundaries and commit to his roles. His portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network remains one of the most iconic and well-crafted portrayals of an individual in modern history, due to Eisenberg’s dedication to the role.
He has continued to remain busy, taking on a variety of characters in different genres for both movie and stage. While he continues to work in different areas, his role as Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network will continue to be one of his defining ones for years to come.
Breaking Boundaries
Jesse Eisenberg proved his ability to break boundaries and take on roles outside his comfort zone when he played the villain Lex Luthor in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Eisenberg took on the iconic Superman villain and put a unique spin on the character. Instead Lex Luthor was portrayed in an intellectual, eccentric way. Eisenberg’s take on the character received praise from fans and critics alike.
Eisenberg has also continued to break boundaries with his work as a playwright. The Spoils, which Eisenberg both wrote and starred in, was the first play he wrote for the stage. The play ran for over 100 performances in Off-Broadway in 2015.
Theatre Work
Much of Eisenberg’s recent work has delved back into his theatrical roots. In 2017, he appeared Off-Broadway in a production of his play, Happy Talk, as well as a revival of his first play, Asuncion. He also appeared on Broadway in 2017 with a production of The Spoils.
Since then, he has also made his Broadway debut with a revival of The Cherry Orchard,appeared Off-Broadway in Skintight, and put on a limited run of his new play, Wormwood, at the Williamstown Theater Festival.
Eisenberg’s critically acclaimed works in theatre have been both displaying and developing his skills as an actor and writer, while also continuing to push his boundaries.
Legacy
Jesse Eisenberg made his name with a breakout performance as the young and ambitious Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network. Since then, he has continued to build a successful career in various areas.
Eisenberg has proven himself to be a versatile actor and playwright, continuously challenging himself to take on different roles and genres. His trailblazing performances and works will remain an integral part of his legacy for years to come.
