“That Person Is A Genius”: The Story Behind Emma Stone’s Unforgettable Zombieland Audition

I had the privilege of speaking with actor Jesse Eisenberg about his experience working alongside the incomparable Emma Stone. Eisenberg, known for his roles in films like The Social Network and Zombieland, shared a behind-the-scenes look at the moment Stone solidified her place in the Zombieland cast—and quite possibly, her status as a comedic genius.

Eisenberg Recalls Stone “Attacking Me With Insults”

According to Eisenberg, the audition process for Zombieland’s female lead role was filled with talented actresses, all vying for a spot in the 2009 post-apocalyptic comedy. “The actors at that point were all amazing actresses, but they were all, like, trying to get into the movie, and so they were being really polite and everything,” he recounted on SiriusXM’s The Spotlight with Jessica Shaw.

However, when Emma Stone stepped into the room, she took a decidedly different approach. “And then [Stone] came in, and she just started making fun of me in the scene, like assaulting me with insults, and it was so funny,” Eisenberg said. “They were so quick, so funny, and so cutting.”

Witnessing Stone’s audition left Eisenberg, already cast in the film, feeling “so, so small”. But rather than being deterred, he and the rest of the room were utterly captivated. “We were like, ‘Oh my God. That person is a genius,'” he recalled, noting that Stone was likely just 19 years old at the time. “She’s a truly spectacularly, unusually brilliant person,” he said.

A Breakout Role And The Start of a fruitful collaboration

Zombieland went on to become a hit, further cementing Emma Stone’s status as a rising star. The film, which also starred Woody Harrelson and Abigail Breslin, followed a group of survivors navigating the zombie apocalypse on their way to a rumored safe haven in Los Angeles.

In 2019, the cast reunited for the sequel, Zombieland: Double Tap, which introduced new characters played by Zoey Deutch, Rosario Dawson, Luke Wilson, Avan Jogia, and even Bill Murray, reprising his role from the original.

But Eisenberg and Stone’s creative partnership didn’t end there. The two have continued to collaborate over the years, most recently on Eisenberg’s directorial debut, When You Finish Saving the World, which Stone produced alongside her husband, Dave McCary. And in 2024, the pair teamed up again for Eisenberg’s latest project, A Real Pain, with Stone serving as a producer.

“She’s An Incredible Producer.”

Eisenberg has nothing but praise for his longtime friend and colleague. “She’s super bright, she’s passionate as hell, and she’s a great friend,” he told PEOPLE in an exclusive interview. She reminds me of a benevolent figure in my life. You know that she’s given me so many wonderful opportunities in my life.”

Eisenberg was astonished by Stone’s contributions as a producer on A Real Pain. “She’s an incredible producer,” he said. “It’s hard to describe because what a producer does is a little bit amorphous, but I’ll just give some examples: She reviewed the script and provided me with the most insightful feedback on potential rewrites. She is currently engaged in marketing calls with the movie studio, discussing strategies for presenting this movie to the global audience. We all just kind of sit back and let her, you know, take charge.”

Eisenberg’s initial impression of Emma Stone as a “genius” has only strengthened during their fruitful collaboration. And for fans of both actors, the prospect of seeing them team up on future projects is an exciting one, filled with the promise of more memorable moments and unforgettable performances.

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