Jesse Eisenberg says teen Emma Stone landed ‘Zombieland’ role by roasting him

Jesse Eisenberg will never forget his first meeting with long-time friend and collaborator Emma Stone — and the brutal roast that won her a role in Zombieland.

In a Nov. 1 interview on The Spotlight with Jessica Shaw, Eisenberg shared how Stone’s unfiltered, insult-laden audition for the 2009 zombie comedy caught everyone off guard, instantly setting her apart.

“I was already cast in the movie, so I was auditioning like many people for her part that day,” he recalled, adding that most actresses played it safe and polite. But Stone had other plans.

“She just started making fun of me in the scene, like just assaulting me with insults… and it was so funny. They were so quick and so funny and cutting,” Eisenberg shared, admitting that her comedic timing left him feeling “so small.” But he knew they’d found the right fit.

“We were like, ‘Oh my God. That person is a genius,’” he added, noting she was only 19 at the time.

Stone’s bold choice clearly paid off, and the two have continued to collaborate, including on Eisenberg’s 2022 directorial debut, When You Finish Saving the World, which Stone produced alongside her husband, Dave McCary.

Stone also co-produced Eisenberg’s newest film, A Real Pain, which premiered Nov. 1. Indeed, their creative synergy, sparked in Zombieland, has grown into a lasting professional bond.