In the past, many actors have gone to extreme lengths to play a character or prepare for a role they were offered to make the most of the opportunity. For Jesse Eisenberg, that length was going full monkey mode and playing the role of Sasquatch.
In fact, the initial release and clips from his film Sasquatch Sunset has turned the eyes of almost everyone to the project, who cannot wait to witness this film in theaters soon.
But even when people are impressed with what the star has done in this surreal comedy film, it seems like a different species of audience member didn’t feel the same. In an interview, Eisenberg revealed that he once showed this film to a Bonobo monkey named Kanzi, who is considered the smartest ape, who had a very strong reaction to his character in the film.
Jesse Eisenberg Revealed How The World’s Smartest Ape Didn’t Particularly Like Sasquatch Sunset
Sure, Jesse Eisenberg may not have been the first actor in history to completely change himself into a mythical or fictional ape like character for a film, but he sure is the first to get reacted in a strong way by an ape in his face because of that role.
This was the time when the star had traveled to an ape initiative in Des Moines, Iowa, where his performance and aesthetics were judged by a Bonobo monkey.
In the most recent episode of The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, the host was informed by the Now You See Me star about how he had gone to the aforementioned ape initiative, where he met Kanzi, considered to be one of the smartest species amongst the great apes.
Here, he revealed that Kanzi was sitting quite peacefully watching the film until his face as the Sasquatch came into the frame. While he may have been enjoying it in the beginning, watching Eisenberg’s avatar on-screen sent him into a confused rage. He said:
“Well, casually, about two seconds after this beautiful shot was taken, casually, Kanzi just slammed his fist into the screen at my face. [It was] like, behind three inches of Plexiglass because these bonobo monkeys are like five times as strong as we are, and so [he] was really angry. You know, I like to think competitive.”
Since great apes are known to be anxious of something that they don’t understand, like people do, this was a natural response that was to be expected.
What is Sasquatch Sunset About?
Initially released at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in January, the unique depiction of the elusive Bigfoot gives a whole different perspective on the life that these creatures might live if they are real.
The film tells the tale of a family of Bigfoot, also known as Sasquatch in many parts of the world, of their daily lives, living in the forests of North America. The film takes us on a journey of these beings as they try to figure out how to live a peaceful and unbothered life in this ever-changing world that is constantly being pushed to one side or the other.
Sasquatch Sunset, in cinemas on 19th April 2024.
