Jesse Eisenberg recently talked about the tough times he faced after playing Lex Luthor in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. He shared that the movie’s poor reception had a serious impact on his career, calling it one of the hardest periods of his professional life.

Eisenberg admitted that both the movie and his performance as Lex were widely criticized, which was tough for him to handle. “I was in this Batman movie, and it was so poorly received, and I was so poorly received,” he explained. “It’s kind of embarrassing to admit, but I really think it hurt my career because I was poorly received in something so public.”

This was the first time Eisenberg had dealt with such widespread backlash. While he’d been part of other poorly reviewed projects, those didn’t draw much attention. But the high-profile nature of Batman v Superman meant the criticism was unavoidable.

The Zack Snyder-directed film struggled with critics, earning just a 29% score on Rotten Tomatoes, although the extended “Ultimate Edition” found more support from fans. Despite breaking box office records during its opening weekend, the movie saw a steep drop in its second week and never fully recovered. It grossed $873.6 million worldwide, making it the seventh-highest-grossing film of 2016, but it fell short of expectations and received mixed reactions from audiences.

Eisenberg’s version of Lex Luthor, often compared to a more eccentric take on his Mark Zuckerberg role in The Social Network, divided fans. Critics felt his portrayal strayed too far from the character’s usual menacing personality.

Even with the backlash, Eisenberg said he took responsibility for the experience. “I loved my role and the movie, doing it and everything, so I feel just myself to blame,” he admitted. He described the aftermath as depressing but added that he naturally views things with a pessimistic outlook.

Since Batman v Superman, Eisenberg has shifted gears, focusing more on writing and directing. He made his directorial debut in 2022 with When You Finish Saving the World and is now promoting his second project, A Real Pain, which is already earning awards buzz.

As Nicholas Hoult prepares to take on Lex Luthor in James Gunn’s upcoming Superman movie, Eisenberg seems to have found a new path forward in the film industry.

You can check out the full interview here: