Fifteen years after his audition for ‘Zombieland‘, Jesse Eisenberg still can’t believe how Emma Stone totally nailed it before landing her spot in the 2009 post-apocalyptic comedy. The actor recently shared with ‘The Spotlight with Jessica Shaw‘ just how memorable the audition was, but maybe not for the best reasons.
Eisenberg recalled and narrated the exact situation he faced during the audition, and how Stone ended up bullying him even though she wasn’t even a cast member yet. Here’s everything the actor said.
Jesse Eisenberg Reveals Emma Stone’s “Genius” Move During The ‘Zombieland’ Audition
Jesse Eisenberg had already been cast in the ‘Zombieland‘, so he was sitting in the room during Emma Stone’s audition for the same. Recalling the audition day, Eisenberg said, “At that point, the actors were all incredible actresses, but they were being really polite, trying to get into the movie.” Then came Emma Stone, who turned the script upside down literally.
“She just suddenly started ragging on me in the scene, battering with insults,” Eisenberg said, laughing at the memory. “They were so swift, so funny and shallow. She left the room, and I just felt so, so small.”
Apparently, the sharp wit and fearless energy won everybody over. “We were like, ‘Oh my God, that person is a genius,'” Eisenberg gushed. “She was probably only 19 at the time of the audition, but she’s a truly spectacularly, unusually brilliant person,” he said, gushing over the ‘La La Land‘ star.
Jesse Eisenberg And Emma Stone Ended Up Being A Perfect Fit For Each Other’s Film Characters
The chemistry between Jesse Eisenberg and Emma Stone eventually proved to be the stuff that made ‘Zombieland‘ a hit. Besides, the rest of the cast of the film, including Woody Harrelson and Abigail Breslin, also added to the glory of the film.
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As per the film’s narrative, the four set out on a zombie-slaying road trip through America. Stone’s tough, sarcastic character Wichita is the perfect foil for Eisenberg’s awkward, rule-following character Columbus. Their banter is also one of the chief highlights of the film.
Ten years later, they reteamed for the film’s 2019 sequel ‘Zombieland: Double Tap‘, again battling the undead — only this time with newcomers Zoey Deutch, Rosario Dawson, and Luke Wilson. For Eisenberg, Stone’s unforgettable audition is only just the beginning of a collaboration that has been clearly very dear to his heart.
