Additional Coverage:
- Jesse Eisenberg said he was driving to Facebook to see if he could meet Mark Zuckerberg, but was told to turn back for ‘legal reasons’ (newsbreak.com)
Local actor Jesse Eisenberg recently shared a story about preparing for his Oscar-nominated role as Mark Zuckerberg in the 2010 film “The Social Network.” Eisenberg revealed he felt compelled to meet the Facebook founder in person.
He was so determined, in fact, that he actually began driving to Facebook’s offices. Eisenberg felt this face-to-face interaction was essential to accurately portray Zuckerberg.
However, his impromptu research trip was abruptly halted. Mid-drive, producer Scott Rudin contacted Eisenberg, instructing him not to go to Facebook’s headquarters. Rudin cited “legal reasons” for the directive, reportedly on behalf of Sony’s legal team.
Eisenberg’s portrayal of Zuckerberg in the film, which depicted the early days of Facebook, earned him a Best Actor nomination. The film itself was a critical and commercial success, garnering multiple awards and accolades.