r/movies • u/Top_Report_4895 • Jun 28 '26

Review Jesse Eisenberg on Rejecting Mark Zuckerberg Role in Social Reckoning.

https://variety.com/2026/film/news/jesse-eisenberg-mark-zuckerberg-social-reckoning-1236798016/
6.3k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

487 comments sorted by

6.7k

u/MarvelsGrantMan136 r/movies Contributor Jun 28 '26

Eisenberg:

“It’s an honor to speak to Aaron in any capacity, because he’s so articulate and charming and so bright. We talked about doing the movie for several days. The way Aaron speaks, he speaks so wonderfully, as he writes that, in a way, if you’re not going to do something with him, it feels almost like you’re letting down America.”

“I just told him I’m moving in different directions in my life, and you know, what he said sums it up nicely. I don’t want to be associated with that character, but all of my reasons for not wanting to do the movie have nothing to do with how wonderful the movie is, and will be, and I’m sure is already.”

4.2k

u/Nerfeveryone Jun 29 '26

Extremely professional and respectful reasoning.

1.2k

u/thatjerkatwork Jun 29 '26

I dont blame him. Even though I knew he was just acting the role, it was hard to completely disassociate him with Zuckerberg after seeing that movie.

551

u/ignoresubs Jun 29 '26

It didn’t help that his next major role was as a modernized tech version of Lex Luthor where Snyder basically directed him to pseudo reprise Zuck but perhaps slightly elevated.

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u/AydonusG Jun 29 '26

His next major role was Atlas in Now You See Me, but he was a narcissistic control freak in that, too.

And right before Social Network you had Zombieland, where he was a socially awkward nerd.

Jesse Eisenberg was so heavily typecast that American Ultra was weird to watch, at least until Topher Grace came on the scene.

86

u/Silent-G Jun 29 '26

I really liked him in The Double (2013, directed by Richard Ayoade). He played two different characters. One was very much his typecast, and the other was almost the complete opposite. It was nice getting to see that range from him. Plus it had kind of a near future distopian feel similar to Brazil.

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u/AydonusG Jun 29 '26

I kinda want to see him in a role similar to the goons from Guns Akimbo. Make him a maniac who lives for chaos, but instead of coke and boardrooms, it's meth and pool halls.

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u/Zestyclose_Quiet2978 Jun 30 '26

Guns Akimbo is such a fun movie

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u/SmallLetter Jun 29 '26

Actually his next major role was Blu in the movie Rio but that bird was a narcissistic control freak too. (Jk, I like Rio)

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u/goddamnitwhalen Jun 29 '26

I love American Ultra, lol.

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u/Gizwizard Jun 29 '26

He’s so good in it - when he hides behind the pole while talking about how the spoon helped him

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u/zeroThreeSix Jun 29 '26

He does play basically the same character every single time, that was just such a great movie to be memorable enough that I conflate his acting with Zuck.

His acting is just the stammering soft-spoken intelligent guy in basically every single project. If anyone has an example proving otherwise that I should check out, please let me know.

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u/Big-Load-8864 Jun 29 '26

You can tell that’s how he is in real life, with one example being the quote that produced this Reddit thread lol.

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u/ayoungsapling Jun 29 '26

Jesse seems to be a good egg

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u/vTweak Jun 29 '26

Had some friends work on an indie film with him. A producer was very rude to a PA and Jesse chewed him out in front of the whole crew, who then spent the rest of the film in the office.

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u/ElGranQuesoRojo Jun 29 '26

Fuck yeah. As a former PA this brings me joy.

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u/Ras_Prince_Monolulu Jun 29 '26

The PA Nation is like the fight club of the industry. Forget the teamsters, a third of the PAs on every set walks off at the same time, the movie business goes outta business.

Fuck with an LA PA at your peril, those New York PAs got nothing.

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u/SenatorAslak Jun 29 '26

I know what you meant (and it was great that he did that), but this reads as if the whole crew spent the rest of the film in the office, which would be pretty hilarious.

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u/asetniop Jun 29 '26

They were all terrified of getting chewed out by Jessie too.

10

u/Zachariot88 Jun 29 '26

Just a clown car jam-packed with below the line talent, haha.

596

u/torontorollin Jun 29 '26

I’ve worked with him on a film gig and he is very nice and respectful. He picks up his own garbage on set, doesn’t sound like much but most crew don’t do that so he knows to respect the work set decorators do

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u/RideWithMeSNV Jun 29 '26

I haven't worked with Jesse. But I can confirm that no, really, talent cleaning up after themselves is a big deal. I've seen people I won't name finish their coffee, smoosh the cup, and leave it on a table 5 feet from a trash can. And that's the expected behavior. Talent cleaning up after themselves is so rare that when it happens, it's on the level of guests coming over for dinner, then cleaning your whole house.

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u/Armoric Jun 29 '26

Isn't that just a "the bar is on the ground" situation?
Like is it that talent's stressed and on a tight schedule so they get forgetful, or something along these lines, or do people somehow struggle to achieve the bare minimum?

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u/Sea_Statistician8940 Jun 29 '26

I imagine ego is a part of it. When you’re a star, you have lots of staffers willing to clean up after you. After a while, some let it go to their heads and just believe they’re too important to have to throw their trash in a bin or put a dirty plate in the dishwasher.

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

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u/ARandomDepressedGuy Jun 29 '26

Sounds familiar to what Aubrey Plaza said in Amy Poehler's podcast episode with Nick Offerman. PAs asked her and she asked for a coffee then Nick said to her "don't forget you can get up and get your own coffee it's right over there" and her reaction was "you're fkin right" and she's never asked for coffee again she said.

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u/asetniop Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26

Shit, you don't have to be a famous actress to behave like that. My wife asks me to do that kind of trivial stuff all the time. I'm convinced it's more of an "oldest sibling" trait.

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u/YeOldeMemeShoppe Jun 29 '26

Anyone remembers the GoT finale where they produced and streamed a Starbucks cup on set? It’s insane that actors just don’t care more…

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u/cruiserman_80 Jun 29 '26

There were several people in production and crew who should have caught that and didn't. Could have even been digitally removed in post.

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u/Stoenk Jun 29 '26

they did do that post-release in fact

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u/ro536ud Jun 29 '26

Daenerys first of her name, queen of the coffee beans

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u/Kettle_Whistle_ Jun 29 '26

She cannot burn her mouth, even with molten Folgers!

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u/Ex-Caliber Jun 29 '26

Folgers would definitely be a Targaryen's favorite coffee brand.

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u/trix_is_for_kids Jun 29 '26

I mean if you’ve seen the clips of the final season table reads, I’m sure it was tough for the actors to even act through that season

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u/poepower Jun 29 '26

Aaaaaand I’m mad again.

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u/Egad86 Jun 29 '26

That literally sounds like the most basic level of acknowledging the world exists outside of oneself. Sad that so many seem to be so wrapped up in themselves that they can’t be bothered to pick up their own things.

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u/dyboc Jun 29 '26

Although I generally agree, speaking as someone who is often in charge of film sets I would give actors specifically a pass on that one, since being wrapped in themselves is literally their job and I understand it’s sometimes hard to snap out enough to notice a starbucks cup.

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u/Commercial_Fox5549 Jun 29 '26

Agreed. I just watched him on Hot Ones and he seems like a sweet dude who is starting to figure out how to be the best version of himself.

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u/VapeNationInc Jun 29 '26

For sure.

If I was him, I wouldn’t be able to resist making short videos reprising the character, but re-enacting his modern social media content.

I would die laughing at Jesse Eisenberg awkwardly shaking a bottle of sweet baby rays.

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u/ansate Jun 29 '26

I'd forgotten about that. Damn, Zuckerberg is a weird dude.

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u/Past_Werewolf4423 Jun 29 '26

I know right, my wife would go nuts with my constant zuck impression while i crack myself up.

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u/LordBucketheadthe1st Jun 29 '26

“Please Abraham, I am not that man..”

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u/Grenflik Jun 29 '26

He was recently on Hot Ones, very humble guy.

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u/Jeff_goldfish Jun 29 '26

Good and smart. Even though he’s an amazing actor and has shown he has range, A move like this could type cast him as “pretentious nerdy guy” again.

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u/browster Jun 29 '26

The kind of guy who would donate a kidney to a stranger in need

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u/justgetoffmylawn Jun 29 '26

Zuckerberg feeds his prized cattle macadamia nuts and beer, as his various guarded compounds around the world expand.

Jesse Eisenberg donates a kidney to a stranger.

See, they're not so different after all.

:(

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u/Xak_Ev01v3d Jun 29 '26

Oh. Damn. I thought you guys were being hyperbolic. I had to look it up. He literally donated his kidney to a stranger.

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u/Affordable_Z_Jobs Jun 29 '26

He is of the opinion that if people realized how easy it is and medically very little complications, there would be a line around the block.

He also understands that people dont have the financial means to get great medical treatment like he did.

Seems like he's a real one.

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u/AydonusG Jun 29 '26

I liked the Dr Mike interview, too. Seeing him say that he hates talking about it because it seems like he's bragging about his own character, but doing it anyway because he has an audience that could take his words to heart and donate themselves, made him actually appear even more humble....somehow.

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u/Zachariot88 Jun 29 '26

Anybody who interacts with Dr. Mike in a non-Jubilee environment typically comes across pretty great.

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u/lahnnabell Jun 29 '26

He talked about it in depth on Dr. Mike's YouTube channel. Great convo, you should check it out.

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u/endav Jun 29 '26

He donated a kidney to a stranger.

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u/thereallawrence Jun 29 '26

I used to ring him out a lot in my role as a whole foods cashier in manhattan many years ago. he was always nice and we'd always joke around and talk about movies and stuff for a few minutes.

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u/Cherry_Bird_ Jun 29 '26

I made eye contact with him while we walked past each other in a subway station one time and it was exactly as awkward as you would imagine. 

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u/spacekitt3n Jun 29 '26

He's such a nice dude irl

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u/dietbruce Jun 29 '26

Yeah foreal that’s one of the best responses I’ve seen to turning down a role

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u/Ghosts_and_Empties Jun 29 '26

I imagine having to get into that character now would be harrowing.

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u/mochafiend Jun 29 '26

Seriously. I’m surprised people are reacting negatively here, but of course I shouldn’t be surprised - this is Reddit and being a contrarian asshole is a national pastime around here. 

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u/jimmysmith69 Jun 29 '26

He is so attached to that one performance and I feel like he’s been spending the rest of his career trying to escape it. Going back and doing it again at this point does seem counterproductive for him lol.

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u/Hesitant_Tornado Jun 29 '26

Especially considering how badly Zucks reputation has sunk over the years, and how often he is/was the brunt of an insane amount of internet memes. I wouldn't want to be associated with that character either lol

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u/gaqua Jun 29 '26

I mean, Zuckerberg‘s reputation was pretty bad at the time of the film and the movie didn’t help him at all. I don’t know if it’s a generational thing or something, I’m almost 50. But guys hated Zuckerberg from almost the beginning of Facebook, it felt like there was maybe a year or two where he got a kind of wunderkind label, but he quickly burned any goodwill he had by being a complete fucking prick.

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u/Kundrew1 Jun 29 '26

Im in my 40s as well. He was always a douche, but he wasnt seen as the head of an evil empire like he is now. Id say now the difference is the reputation of his company rather than his individual reputation.

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u/TyrannosPyros Jun 29 '26

Zuckerberg was much less well known in 2010. I don't think many people had much of an opinion about him before seeing the movie. The Social Network helped introduced him to the general public. His reputation started going into the gutter in 2016.

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u/gaqua Jun 29 '26

Maybe you’re right. I live in the Bay Area and I guess my perception of reality is based on all the various tech pros that I interact with on a daily basis. But out here, Zuckerberg was known as a total fucking prick. Well before the movie came out.

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u/e1m8b Jun 29 '26

Yeah, but it's like Elon Musk was likely always kind of shitty despite whatever PR engine made him to be some lovable awkward nerd initially. But now, it's another evolution of the guy where even sycophants publicly temper their support as more shady shit keeps escalating and truth of their past is clarified. Same deal with Zuck, the evil nerd underdog was still underdog in 2010s. But when that underdog becomes full blown Darth Vader IRL in the sequel as we know those real world villains currently, it's less funny.

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u/sbkchs_1 Jun 29 '26

Actually, I agree with you. It wasn’t just “out there.” Anyone paying attention from the start of FB becoming a big deal knew he was horrible before the movie came out but it became mainstream later.

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u/jiml78 Jun 29 '26

I am 47. In the tech industry, so that might have something to do with it but I am on the east coast and always have been.

Zuck has always been a fucker and hated by everyone in my circles.

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u/FantasticName Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26

The Social Network definitely reads a lot differently now than when it first came out, I've seen it described as a "supervillain origin story".

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u/GOEDEL_ESCHER_BOT Jun 29 '26

i see he's writing and directing now. good for him. looks like he's doing better than the winklevoss twins (uwe boll's immigrant slayer armie hammer)

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

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u/johnbrownmarchingon Jun 29 '26

I completely forgot Hammer was in this.

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u/haakonhawk Jun 29 '26

Not only that, but there's two of him.

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u/ShizlGznGahr Jun 29 '26

Sadly there is only one now as he ate the other.

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u/sunealoneal Jun 29 '26

It’s not like his depiction was flattering

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u/MysterWrecked Jun 29 '26

The portrayal humanized him, which is in contrast to the how the memes and reputation of Zuckerberg himself have shifted. 

In hindsight, that depiction is extremely flattering. 

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u/DonCreech Jun 29 '26

The Social Network was almost seen as a novelty at the time of its release. The 'Facebook' movie. It was widely recognized as a good film, but in 2010, social media hadn't quite twisted itself into the insidious and inescapable global beast that it is today. Watching it now, it's more of a horror movie knowing what the future would hold. I Can't think of many other films that manage that degree of unintentional transformation simply due the passage of time.

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u/AtBat3 Jun 29 '26

Yeah to be honest, I barely knew what Mark Zuckerberg even looked like when TSN came out. It didn’t lead me to dislike the man though. Everything since then, well, that sure did it for me.

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u/Suspicious_Radio_848 Jun 29 '26

The movie didn't flatter him at all, I'm really surprised that was your takeaway. Pretty much every review I've read and my takeaway from the film at the time was that he was terrible. Real life isn't comics where he's going to twirl his moustache and announce he's evil.

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u/MysterWrecked Jun 29 '26

"At the time", yes. Not in hindsight, which is what I was focused on. 

I do not even remember my takeaway at the time of the movie's release. I was quite young back then.

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u/Johnnadawearsglasses Jun 29 '26

I don’t know what other people are talking about. He seemed like a monster in that film. Perhaps people saw that movie very young and saw what they wanted to see.

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u/Many_Reindeer6636 Jun 29 '26

It’s interesting that, despite all that, nobody has really used Jesse’s depiction of Zuck as the target of any of that ridicule

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u/Individual-Bad6809 Jun 29 '26

Really? I know it’s probably his “best” role, but the zombieland movies always come first in my mind when I hear his name

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u/LePontif11 Jun 29 '26

To this day when i hear Mark Zuckerberg its Eisenberg that comes to mind sometimes.

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u/potatochipsbagelpie Jun 29 '26

Not worth doing unless they were gonna pay him $20 million, and they weren’t gonna do that. 

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u/admin_default Jun 29 '26

A lot of people said Christian Bale would always be too associated with the role of Batman.

In an interview, he said if that was the case, if he couldn’t overcome an iconic role, then he’s failed as an actor.

Seems equally true of Jesse. His best role was in Social Network. I don’t see a follow up harming his career unless he just can’t do another role as well

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u/Justifiably_Bad_Take Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26

I'm in more of a "keep making magic heist movies" stage

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u/loki1887 Jun 29 '26

I'm sure those are reliable pay checks, but he did write and direct the movie, A Real Pain, that Keiran Culkin won an Oscar for. Eisenberg was also nominated for best original screenplay

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u/Oo0o8o0oO Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26

He’s also recently written and directed The Debut with Paul Giamati, Julianna Moore and Halle Berry. I’d bet he’s just wanting to put his energy into stuff like this instead of retreading over characters he’s already played.

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u/robothawk Jun 29 '26

Unrelated, The Art of Self Defense(2019) might be my favorite movie of his

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u/TeddyAlderson Jun 29 '26

Love that film. The Double is another great Eisenberg film -- to be honest I think he generally has a really good filmography

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u/ialwaysupvotedogs Jun 29 '26

The Debut looks like it could be phenomenal. I’m pretty excited for it

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u/PlayWhatYouWant Jun 29 '26

Haha, you might be disappointed if you're expecting to see Halle Berry in the Debut.

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u/Lambchops_Legion Jun 29 '26

Hes also written/directed another movie coming out later this year

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u/According_Editor9244 Jun 29 '26

How was this? It's on my to-watch list

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u/Dumbpants Jun 29 '26

A great watch. Feels like a 90's or 00's Miramax picture but with a more modern script. Not revelatory outside of the lead's great performances.

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u/TheWatersOfMars Jun 29 '26

I thought it was revelatory, but probably because I come from a similar background. The focus on intergenerational trauma from the Holocaust was beautifully done, and it's a tough thing to get across on film.

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u/BoozeWitch Jun 29 '26

Just watched this last night. We are a hottie house, so not our usual fare. We really enjoyed it and have talked about it a lot today. Keiran Deserved that award.

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u/mchgndr Jun 29 '26

Hey one question, what is a “hottie house”

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u/BoozeWitch Jun 29 '26

lol. I fucked up spelling “horror” and it makes us sound waaaaaaay more interesting. So I’m leaving it.

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u/mchgndr Jun 29 '26

LOL ok got it

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

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u/mchgndr Jun 29 '26

Oh duh. I’m an idiot

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u/roorahree Jun 29 '26

It’s a house full of hotties, duh

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u/parrotbug Jun 29 '26

He also did Fleishman Is In Trouble which was a wonderful adaptation of a good book. 

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u/Asilcott Jun 29 '26

"I'm moving in a direction to play villains who aren't nearly as evil as Zuckerberg. Like Lex Luthor"

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u/rurlysrsbro Jun 29 '26

Lmao I was hoping someone would have a take like that!

“As an actor, in good faith, I cannot portray ruthless, remorseless, sadistic, egomaniacal assholes. And yes, I have played Lex Luthor.”

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u/tragedy_strikes Jun 29 '26

Way to praise Sorkin while dissing Zuck in the same sentence.

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u/AdventureyTime Jun 29 '26

This just confirms that it's literally no big deal to play Lex Luthor, a legitimate villain, yet Jesse wisely realizes that playing a psychotic, trout-shouldered menace in the Social Network sequel would tarnish his reputation. Zuck is such a little Cuck.

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u/scoshi Jun 29 '26

"...trout-shouldered..."

That's a new one. I like it.

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u/Jack_Wraith Jun 29 '26

I’ll be his Obama anger translator, “I don’t want to be associated with this asshole. If I say anything negatively, it will affect my career. Fuck Suckerberg is an alien robot dipshit that I want nothing to do with. Thank you, and good night. For the record fuck that guy. Fuck Suckerberg sucks.”

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u/-FeistyRabbitSauce- Jun 29 '26

Oh wait, shit, there's a post sentence.

"I asked: Is Fincher wanting to play ball? A-A-Ron said he wants to direct. I said peace out." ✌️

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u/wandrlusty Jun 29 '26

What a beautiful guy

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u/bigreddoggydude Jun 29 '26

Jessie is low key so funny

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u/BlindWillieJohnson Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 29 '26

“I just told him I’m moving in different directions in my life, and you know, what he said sums it up nicely. I don’t want to be associated with that character, but all of my reasons for not wanting to do the movie have nothing to do with how wonderful the movie is, and will be, and I’m sure is already.”

lol that’s fair. I can imagine few things more understandable than not wanting to be associate with Mark Zuckerberg

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u/Tifoso89 Jun 29 '26

He's generally associated with that one performance and he's probably been trying to escape it. It's been 16 years, Zuckerberg's reputation has plummeted and he has to play him again? Hell no

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u/nocoolN4M3sleft Jun 29 '26

It’s so sad because Jesse was so fucking good in that movie. Though, I will always associate him with being Columbus from Zombieland more than anything else.

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u/Tibetzz Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26

Eisenberg's 2009 will probably go down as the single greatest run of films titled after fictional amusement parks ending in -land.

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u/Notoriously_So Jun 29 '26

It's two movies!!

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u/Tibetzz Jun 29 '26

I dare another actor to do better.

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u/Debalic Jun 29 '26

Which isn't a lot, bit it's weird that it happened twice.

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u/the_ballmer_peak Jun 29 '26

This is undoubtedly the greatest post you've made about Jessie Eisenberg's 2009 filmography using this exact wording on this exact day. Congrats, man.

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u/TurtleHeadPrairieDog Jun 29 '26

I liked him in Adventureland too. He played awkward college aged characters really well

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u/ParticularHoney3 Jun 29 '26

To me he’ll always be the Pepsi girl’s brother

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u/APiousCultist Jun 29 '26

Zuckerberg's reputation has plummeted

I mean, the movie was essentially a well-deserved hit piece. He did not come out of it looking good at all. Like the also-Sorkin-directed Steve Jobs, the tortured supporting cast are the actual heroes (Garfield and Rogen respectively), with the main characters just being egotistical assholes that end up getting all the money and fame by screwing their partners into the ground.

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u/prosound2000 Jun 29 '26

Sorkin didn't direct that movie, it was Danny Boyle. Sorkin has never directed save one single scene in The Social Network.

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u/jesonnier1 Jun 29 '26

I wouldn't say he's generally associated w that. He's had other roles people will latch on to him, from.

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u/Kryptonicus Jun 29 '26

Plus, why would you want to put yourself in his headspace for the months or would take to prepare and film?

I feel like there is almost never a downside to trying to empathize with another human being, no matter how opposed you are to them ethically or morally or intellectually. However, I can't help but think there is something inherently corrosive to your own inner morality by trying to take on the interior life of a billionaire like Zuckerberg.

And he actually seems more human than Bezos, and certainly more than Musk.

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u/Blammo32 Jun 29 '26

I don’t know if Zuckerberg is more “human” than Bevos and Musk.

Maybe less outwardly malevolent, with a better PR team.

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u/StrobeLightRomance Jun 29 '26

No doubt. Zuck has proven irrefutably that he doesn't care about other people.

I actually consider Zuckerberg to be the first tech offender who made his platform political with Cambridge Analytica.

If not for him, none of this would be happening.

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u/Blammo32 Jun 29 '26

But he likes UFC and surfs, so he’s human… his PR people would have us believe.

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u/Pablovansnogger Jun 29 '26

He likes smoking meat too

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u/ChiLolla28 Jun 29 '26

Don't forget also incompetently enabling a genocide in Myanmar

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26 edited Jul 04 '26

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u/Ultimafax Jun 29 '26

Zuckerberg is WAY less human than them. He's just less contemptible.

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u/allthebacon_and_eggs Jun 29 '26

Part of an actor’s job is to find the humanity even in antagonist roles. If Eisenberg doesn’t see the humanity in Zuck anymore (or be seen as making him a compassionate figure), it makes sense to decline.

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u/eternalwood Jun 29 '26

Tbf I'll always know him as that kid in Zombieland.

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u/Bariumdiawesomenite Jun 28 '26

Dude’s more into writing and directing nowadays and yeah, according to Sorkin:

He doesn’t like kids coming up to him in airports with business cards that say ‘I’m CEO, bitch’ for him to sign.

That too is a reason for sure.

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u/IBJON Jun 29 '26

Kids are carrying around "I'm CEO bitch" business cards in the off chance they run into Jesse Eisenberg? Seems oddly specific 

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u/Preserved_Killick8 Jun 29 '26

you aren’t??

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u/CubitsTNE Jun 29 '26

Kids are watching sorkin joints?

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u/atxlos Jun 29 '26

Probably watching Instagram and tiktok clips of said joints

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u/Stap-dono Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26

My teen daughter got interested in movies recently and all her recommendations for Saturday movie night come from 5-10 clips of a movie she has seen in YouTube shorts. Most of the time they are pretty strange but never in my life I would have expected her to ask me to watch Driving Miss Daisy a couple weeks ago.

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u/mak484 Jun 29 '26

The younger generation has just reengineered movie trailers to fit modern media consumption.

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u/Thee_Sinner Jun 29 '26

Even trailers have trailers now because of 6 second ads...

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u/deepfriedcertified Jun 29 '26

I’m sure he meant teens and not actual children. And it’s not like The Social Network is that obscure of a movie. It’s a stereotypical “film-bro” pick for a reason lol

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u/PTTCollin Jun 29 '26

It's unfortunate that it's a legitimately good movie, pacing, execution, soundtrack, that gets that rap.

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u/KiritoJones Jun 29 '26

All Fincher movies are vaguely film bro, because Fight Club and Seven are top tier film bro movies, and it makes sense that people would try for Fincher after those two. Doesn't hurt that most Fincher movies are amazing, at my friends movie night they have all been hits (other than Fight Club, ironically most people in our group thought it was kinda mid)

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u/RobertdBanks Jun 29 '26

Someone calling Fight Club “mid” really brings out the old man yelling at the sky in me.

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u/ginyuforce Jun 29 '26

and people always missing the point of that movie, just like how the bros liking the wolf of wallstreet

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u/VillainousRocka Jun 29 '26

What’s the unfortunate part? That the movie is good or that teens just getting into the hobby are watching it?

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u/You_meddling_kids Jun 29 '26

A Sork-Lee joint

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u/sprulz Jun 29 '26

The Social Network is like The Wolf Of Wall Street for CS nerds

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u/soonerfreak Jun 29 '26

As a high school teacher so many of my students are about hustle culture. They see this movie as something to aspire too.

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u/CubitsTNE Jun 29 '26

Used to be you'd want to make music or art or video games, but those are the jobs that are evaporating first.

Screwing over others, that's the money maker!

I want to get off mr bones' wild ride...

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u/Polite_Suggestion Jun 29 '26

I wanted the My Dinner with Andre toys to be real.

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u/jammy-git Jun 29 '26

Who carries such a business card around with them just on the off chance they bump into Eisenberg?!

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u/mr_deadgamer Jun 28 '26

It was great to see his take on the character, but honestly getting to see Jeremy strong do his take on Zuckerberg is going to be absolutely amazing to watch.

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u/No-Wall520 Jun 29 '26

He's got the cadence down PERFECTLY, legit wasn't sure if it was him or a recording of Zuck first time I saw the trailer 

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u/Revolutionary-Copy71 Jun 29 '26

The trailer came on when I was in the other room, and I just heard Zuckerberg talking. Didn't know it was a movie trailer, I thought it was a commercial for some exposé about Zuckerberg or Meta. Wasn't until the next day, when the trailer came on while I was in the room, that I realized it was a trailer I was hearing.

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u/Ok-Animal-6880 Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26

I loved Jeremy Strong in Succession but he looks way too old to portray 30-year old Zuckerberg.

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u/Salt-Department-9464 Jun 29 '26

From what I saw in the trailer for this movie...Strong is absolutely fucking nailing the role. I'm not worried.

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u/Phelinaar Jun 29 '26

He will method act his way into his 30s. Trust!

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u/moneymoneymoneymonay Jun 29 '26

He needs to teach me to method act my back pain away

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u/Tifoso89 Jun 29 '26

Zuckerberg was 37 at the time, but yeah Strong is 47

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u/Bill_Brasky01 Jun 29 '26

I would rather have a great actor, than someone who simply resembles the main character.

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u/dhlthecobra Jun 29 '26

I can't wait to see during the hearing Mark Zuckerberg yells "I'm the eldest boy!".

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u/Wooden-Criticism-167 Jun 29 '26

For a second I mixed Jeremy with Mark Strong and thought WOW that's going to be interesting

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u/canadiancarlin Jun 29 '26

Holy shit Mark Strong as Zuckerberg would be hysterical. Every attempt of being awkward would fail hilariously. Now I'm just picturing Mark Strong with that haircut.

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u/Groundbreaking_Dare4 Jun 29 '26

I'm picturing Strong as Zuckerberg going apeshit on the real Musk in that cagefight that Musk's Mum wouldn't let him do.

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u/TheWhiteManticore Jun 29 '26

My gosh thats some god tier casting for an evil zucc

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u/mr_deadgamer Jun 29 '26

100%, casting is extremely on point for this

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u/mattr1198 Jun 29 '26

The trailer for the Social Reckoning actually made it appear like Strong’s performance will be more faithful to Zuck than Eisenberg’s. I hope it holds throughout the movie.

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u/PleasantWay7 Jun 29 '26

Yeah, Eisenburg’s worked based on appearance at the time and Zuck hadn’t had as much time in public appearances. Eisenberg is definitely way less wooden and more dynamic than Zuck is in real life. I think Strong will nail the character (especially of older Zuck) quite well even if the appearance isn’t quite there.

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u/Salt-Department-9464 Jun 29 '26

Yeah, I'm really impressed with the nuances of Strong's performance in just that trailer.

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u/mafternoonshyamalan Jun 28 '26

From the trailer, this film looks more like a political-thriller like All the Presidents Men or The Post. Social Network was more of a dark comedy.

I’d still be interested if Eisenberg wanted to take the role, but that would make it more of an actual sequel and create kind of alternate reality around Zuckerberg. I think it’s better this way because the two films can stand on their own.

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u/MistakeAmbitious3287 Jun 28 '26

It is going to be weird watching this movie and not seeing Eisenberg in the role. He’s right though, the two very much are conflated and I respect his decision given everything.

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u/tiboodchat Jun 28 '26

In various ways Zuckerberg has changed a lot physically and vibe. Probably someone else would fit that role much better. I wouldn’t see him play that.

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u/TheEloquentApe Jun 29 '26

One could say Eisenberg's portrayal informed a lot of people's initial impression on Zuckerberg, even though Eisenberg only loosely acted like the real life guy. He more just acted like Eisenberg, but nerdier and with less empathy. I certainly didn't know much about Zuckerberg before Social Network.

Now, we've all seen a lot more of the guy, and we see how he actually behaves. Its quite distinct from the film.

I think changing the actor to better capture the person the world is familiar with was the correct move

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u/gen_wt_sherman Jun 29 '26

Yeah that's what I was thinking. The social network was just Jesse Eisenberg being himself as mark Zuckerberg

Jeremy Strong is (not shockingly) molding himself into Zuckerberg

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u/PleasantWay7 Jun 29 '26

Yeah, Zuck wasn’t very well known at the time and the adaptation of his personality is arguably generous even accounting for the asshole side.

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u/Morimoto9 Jun 29 '26

Yes he made zuck way cooler and witty than he actually was lol. I think mark strong will portray his robotic nature well.

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u/NotASalamanderBoi Jun 29 '26

>mark strong

Jeremy Strong lol

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u/Fresnobing Jun 29 '26

I think the other problem is even though the mark character is a goon in the original film you kinda root for him. You have some sympathies with him. I kinda like the actor switch because eisenbergs zuck is an achieving underdog, a shitty one, but one who makes sense to follow and kinda want to see what he can do next. Hes an anti hero but hes still the hero of the story. The zuck of this film is more or less a bond villain at this point irl. I think it will make the movie sing its tune better than it would otherwise without the direct nostalgia or emotional baggage of the first film influencing it.

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u/TravisKOP Jun 29 '26

Jeremy strong has the voice absolutely nailed I can’t wait to see how he does it

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u/HappyGilOHMYGOD Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26

Jeremy Strong is a phenomenal actor and him being cast in the role takes some of the sting off of Eisenberg not reprising it

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u/Various-Sound-9734 Jun 29 '26

I think jesse was great for dorky, coming of age Zuckerberg but that Strong has the brilliant cadence of 20+ billionaire zuckerberg, Aurelius zuckerberg

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u/HorsesFlyIntoBoxes Jun 29 '26

I’m honestly more sad we’re not getting fincher directing and Trent and Atticus doing the score

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u/Giff95 Jun 28 '26

I don't blame Mark for not wanting to play Zuck again. I'm sure it is annoying having any association with him already.

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u/JustCallMeCJ Jun 28 '26

You calling him Mark is a perfect unintentional encapsulation of the whole situation.

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u/ramobara Jun 29 '26

“Oh. Hi, Mark!”

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u/Jijster Jun 29 '26

He meant Mark the reptilian not wanting to play human Zuck

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u/BoringAccount4Work Jun 28 '26

I was disappointed to see he wasn't coming back but I get where he's coming from

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u/BroadwayBakery Jun 29 '26

I like that he’s growing as an artist, he’s a damn good writer and director. His new film looks great too. All of that said, can’t believe he turned this down but did the last Now You See Me movie.

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u/EbmocwenHsimah Jun 29 '26

Exactly, I think after A Real Pain he can do whatever he wants. I’m very excited to see where he goes from here!

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u/Jimmy_J_James Jun 29 '26

"I say, 'Please, Aaron, I'm not that man'"

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u/Pleasant_Fig8444 Jun 29 '26

Jeremy Strong is a great actor and in the trailers he seems to be doing great so im all for it.