Jesse Eisenberg is back behind the camera with The Debut, a darkly comic look at community theater from A24. The film stars Julianne Moore as Mona Friedman, a meek housewife who auditions for a local production and, under the influence of a domineering director played by Paul Giamatti, transforms into a zealous method actor willing to wage war over a bit part.
Check out the official trailer below.
The Premiere Date
A24 has not announced an official release date, but the film is targeting a fall 2026 theatrical release.
The Plot
When Mona Friedman is cast in a small role at a local community theater, she transforms from a shy, unassuming housewife into a zealous method actor willing to do anything to protect the artistic integrity of her marginal role — even if it means going to war with the show’s domineering director. She lands a part in a production run by Jerry (Giamatti), described in the trailer as “the biggest name in New Jersey community theater.” As Jerry tells Mona: “Every single thing you are doing is not working.”
The Cast
Moore stars as Mona Friedman, with Giamatti as Jerry, the show’s domineering director. Jesse Eisenberg, who also wrote and directed the film, appears in a supporting role alongside Halle Bailey, Cara Buono, Craig Bierko, Eldar Isgandarov, and Bernadette Peters.
Who’s Behind the Camera
The Debut is written and directed by Eisenberg, his third feature as a filmmaker after When You Finish Saving the World (2022) and A Real Pain (2024). He produces alongside Emma Stone, Dave McCary, and Ali Herting, with Topic Studios and Fruit Tree — the same production company behind A Real Pain — backing the project.
Composer Emile Mosseri, who scored Minari and Eisenberg’s debut feature When You Finish Saving the World, returns for The Debut. Eisenberg also wrote all original songs for the film. Drew Daniels, cinematographer on Sean Baker’s Anora and Red Rocket, serves as director of photography. The movie is edited by Robert Nassau (A Real Pain, The Big Sick) with casting by Douglas Aibel (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Marriage Story) and production design from Anne Ross (Lost in Translation, The Beguilded).
What’s the origin of the project?
The film draws from Eisenberg’s Off-Broadway play Happy Talk, which starred Susan Sarandon and ran at the Pershing Square Signature Center in 2019. Eisenberg has also repurposed music he originally wrote for an unproduced musical over a decade ago. “I wrote a musical 15 years ago, and it never got produced, and the next movie I’m making takes place in the world of community theater,” he told IndieWire. “I’m able to repurpose music that I wrote.” It’s worth noting that despite its community theater setting, The Debut is not technically a musical.
Oscar buzz
The Debut arrives with considerable awards pedigree behind it. Eisenberg’s previous film, A Real Pain, earned Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor (Kieran Culkin, who won) and Best Original Screenplay, with Eisenberg winning the BAFTA for the latter — and Giamatti could follow Culkin’s path to a supporting actor Oscar via another sharp Eisenberg script.
Moore, a five-time Oscar nominee, could land her sixth nomination here. She won Best Actress for Still Alice (2015) and earned previous bids for Boogie Nights (1998), The End of the Affair (2000), The Hours (2003) and Far from Heaven (2003). Giamatti is a two-time nominee, for Cinderella Man (2006) and The Holdovers (2024). Eisenberg himself has two nominations — Best Actor for The Social Network in 2011 and Best Original Screenplay for A Real Pain at last year’s Academy Awards.
Official Posters
