Eisenberg Going to Zombieland

Maybe this picture will help me remember who Jesse Eisenberg is.

The Hollywood Reporter writes that Jesse Eisenberg is in talks to join the cast of Ruben Fleischer’s Zombieland.  Woody Harrelson is already set to star in a story of survivors in a world overrun by zombies. THR says in their description that said survivors find “friendship and redemption” while surviving, which I guess is what will set it apart from all the other “survivors in a world overrun by zombies” movies. Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick wrote the script.

Eisenberg is up for the role of Flagstaff, a “terrified shut-in whose cowardice makes him an expert at surviving zombies, but who is forced out of his shell to join the band of survivors.” In other words, in the common “band of mismatched people who are forced to work together,” he’s taking on the traditional role of the geek/loser/social outcast  who has an odd skill that suddenly makes him the hero.

I never remember anything about Eisenberg until I see his list of credits (including The Squid and the Whale and Rodger Dodger). I seem to easily confuse him with a number of other Jesses.

If, like me, you’re unfamiliar with the oeuvre of Ruben Fleischer, Slashfilm found out that he has directed a number of music videos, commercials, and short films, some of which they have posted here.

There’s nothing about this movie that sounds terribly wrong, just a feeling that it’s been done before–both with and without a comic spin. I guess my only other comment is that Woody Harrelson seems to be working a lot lately, and that’s not much of a comment. I am struck dumb with ambivalence.