Jesse Eisenberg had to throw out his playbook to direct Kieran Culkin in 'A Real Pain'
Jesse Eisenberg had not seen “Succession” when he was writing his new film “A Real Pain," but his sister knew from watching Roman Roy over the years that Kieran Culkin would be perfect
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Jesse Eisenberg had not seen “Succession” when he was writing his new film “A Real Pain.” But his sister Hallie Eisenberg knew from years of watching Roman Roy that Kieran Culkin would be perfect.
The film, which premieres at the Sundance Film Festival on Saturday, follows two very mismatched cousins, one anxiety ridden and rule following and the other a more spontaneous spirit, on a trip to Poland. They’re reuniting to see where their late grandmother was from and also explore some Holocaust locations.
Eisenberg had wanted to play the spontaneous one, which was similar to a character he'd played on stage in “The Spoils” in England. But he was gently talked out of it. It was, he realized, a taxing role that might be too much to handle while also directing. And so, Culkin became aspirational.
They’d met previously through their mutual friend Emma Stone, who also produced “A Real Pain,” but he really didn’t know him well. And he’d quickly discover that casting Culkin and directing him, even getting him on set, was a different kind of challenge that he hadn’t expected.
