Celebrating Our 20th Anniversary!
by Alex Billington
June 23, 2026
Source: YouTube
“When I saw you up there, I just thought… ‘I wish that was me.'” A24 has revealed the first official trailer for The Debut, a brand new musical comedy riff on the community theater scene. This is the next film both written & directed by maestro Jesse Eisenberg, who earned Oscar nominations for his last feature film A Real Pain. A24 is releasing this later in 2026 but we’re not sure if it’ll premiere at any festivals before it opens. A shy housewife is unexpectedly cast in a local production of an original musical. Under the spell of the strong-willed and enigmatic director, she loses herself in the role and also in the high-stakes world of this community theater production, transforming into a method actor. The film stars Julianne Moore as the star, Paul Giamatti as the director, Halle Bailey, Havana Rose Liu, Colton Ryan, Lilli Cooper, Maulik Pancholy, and Bernadette Peters. This reminds me of the other film about how local theater changes people called Ghostlight. Looks terrific! Eisenberg’s distinct filmmaking is always worth watching.
Here’s the first official trailer (+ posters) for Jesse Eisenberg’s film The Debut, direct from YouTube:
When Mona Friedman (starring Julianne Moore) is cast in a bit part at a small community theater, she transforms from a shy, unassuming housewife into a zealous method actor who’ll do anything to protect the artistic integrity of her marginal role—even if it means waging war against the show’s domineering director (Paul Giamatti). The Debut is a musical comedy written and directed by acclaimed American actor / filmmaker Jesse Eisenberg, director of the films When You Finish Saving The World and A Real Pain previously, and a producer on a few others including Sasquatch Sunset. It’s produced by Ali Herting, Dave McCary & Emma Stone. Made by Topic Studios and Fruit Tree. A24 will release Eisenberg’s The Debut film in select US theaters later in 2026 – stay tuned for the exact release date. First impression? Look any good?
