Jesse Eisenberg addressed the recent jewelry theft at the Louvre Museum during his Wednesday night appearance on The Tonight Show, joking that the daring crime was actually a publicity stunt for the upcoming movie Now You See Me: Now You Don’t. The actor leaned into the speculation circulating online linking the Oct. 19 heist in Paris to the film’s plot, which centers on magicians executing clever robberies.
Playing Along with the Louvre Heist Speculation
Host Jimmy Fallon brought up the rumors that the Louvre burglary might have been staged to promote the third installment of the illusionist franchise. Instead of dismissing the idea, Eisenberg humorously claimed it was a tactic devised by the movie’s marketing team. He explained:
You know, we’re trying to get people back to theaters,
he said.
And there’s only so many, kind of, cute TikTok videos I can make. And we had to do something a little outside the box.
– Jesse Eisenberg, actor
The playful response fits the storyline of the film, where a group of magicians perform elaborate heists as part of their acts, making it easy for fans to draw parallels between fiction and real-life events.
Admiring the Thieves’ Speed and Skill
Despite the joke, Eisenberg acknowledged the impressive nature of the robbery, which saw thieves disguised as construction workers slip in shortly after the museum opened and escape with eight pieces of the French Crown Jewels in under eight minutes. Reflecting on the crime, Eisenberg remarked to Fallon:
When I read about that, I remember thinking like, ‘Oh they did a good job,’
he recalled.
Almost, like, with the authority to evaluate, you know, how quick they were — which was very impressive.
– Jesse Eisenberg, actor
Reality Checks on the Heist and Its Motives
While Eisenberg initially entertained the idea that the thieves might have a noble purpose behind the theft—mirroring his character’s morally ambiguous roles in the movies—he quickly dismissed this notion, highlighting how his long involvement with the Now You See Me series has somewhat skewed his perspective on criminal acts:
They are probably not doing that,
Eisenberg admitted.
But, just the way my mind works from doing these movies for 15 years … I have been kind of brainwashed by these wonderful movies to think anybody doing anything bad or stealing anything is ultimately doing it for a good reason.
– Jesse Eisenberg, actor
Upcoming Film and Show Details
Now You See Me: Now You Don’t is scheduled to hit theaters on November 14. Fans can also catch Eisenberg’s full interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, which airs every weeknight at 11:35 p.m. ET on NBC. Eisenberg’s lighthearted commentary on a real-life high-stakes crime offered a moment of levity amid the widespread fascination and tension surrounding the Louvre burglary.
