Jesse Eisenberg did not meet Mark Zuckerberg before ‘The Social Network’ for this reason
3 min readJesse Eisenberg, who famously portrayed Mark Zuckerberg in the 2010 film The Social Network, initially wanted to meet the Facebook founder before stepping into the role. He believed that meeting Zuckerberg would be an essential part of his preparation. However, despite his desire to interact with the real-life figure he was set to play, Eisenberg was advised against it, and for a very specific reason.
In a recent appearance on the Awards Chatter podcast, Eisenberg explained that he was determined to meet Zuckerberg. “I was driving up to meet him because I was told [by producers], ‘No, we’re not going to [set up a meeting for you],’” Eisenberg recalled. Undeterred, he decided to take matters into his own hands. “I was literally in my car driving up,” he said. “I was going to just go to the office, and I figured they would let me in. [The film] was announced that I was in it. I just wanted to be in a room with him, just to see what the feeling is like. It just seemed like the bare minimum of research.”
For Eisenberg, the idea of portraying someone as well-known as Zuckerberg without ever meeting him felt like a missed opportunity. “How could you act in a movie when there’s a living person over there?” he wondered. But his attempts to make contact were blocked, and soon, a powerful figure in Hollywood intervened.
The actor received a call from producer Scott Rudin, who, on behalf of Sony’s legal team, made it clear that meeting Zuckerberg wasn’t a possibility. “I got a call from Scott Rudin telling me: ‘Do not go there,’” Eisenberg shared. “He was telling me this on behalf of Sony’s lawyers. He was telling me, ‘You can’t do that for a variety of legal reasons.’” Despite his curiosity and eagerness to get closer to the real Zuckerberg, Eisenberg had to abandon his plan.
Although he never met the Facebook founder, Eisenberg’s portrayal of Zuckerberg in The Social Network became iconic, with his performance earning him widespread acclaim. The film, directed by David Fincher, explored the rise of Facebook and the complex, often contentious relationships that defined the company’s early days.
In the same interview, Eisenberg also spoke about his thoughts on Zuckerberg’s recent actions, particularly his controversial decision to end fact-checking on Meta’s social media platforms. Eisenberg explained that his perspective was shaped, in part, by his personal life. “I’m married to a really brilliant woman who teaches in public schools in New York and founded Disability Justice, an awareness program, to help others,” he said, framing his response through his own values and experiences.
For Eisenberg, the idea that individuals with significant power, like Zuckerberg, aren’t using their resources to positively impact the world is a perplexing one. “So when I think about people who have a lot of power and aren’t using it to help people, I’m just mystified,” Eisenberg said. “Why wouldn’t you just give away half your money to a good thing?” He went on to express his disbelief at Zuckerberg’s decision to remove protections for marginalized groups on his platforms. “And why are you taking off protections for marginalized people on your website? To me, that’s mystifying,” Eisenberg remarked. He noted that he would have the same reaction to other wealthy figures from history. “But I’d be the same person who looks at the Rockefellers at the time, go, ‘Why the hell are you doing what you’re doing?’”
Beyond his reflections on Zuckerberg, Eisenberg also discussed his latest film, A Real Pain. The film centers on two cousins, David (Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin), who embark on a journey through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The movie explores their emotional reunion and the complexities of their family dynamics.
Eisenberg’s interview sheds light on his thoughtful and reflective nature, offering insight into both his career and personal views. Despite the fact that he never met the real Zuckerberg, his portrayal of the tech mogul remains one of the most memorable performances of his career, and his personal reflections reveal his strong sense of ethics and commitment to making a positive difference in the world.
Source: CNN
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