A24 has released the first trailer for The Debut, Jesse Eisenberg’s new musical comedy starring Still Alice actor Julianne Moore and The Holdovers star Paul Giamatti. The film is expected to arrive this autumn, although an exact cinema release date has not yet been announced.
Moore stars as Mona Friedman, a shy housewife who is cast in a small role at a local community theatre. What begins as a tentative return to performing soon develops into a full commitment to method acting, with Mona prepared to do almost anything to defend the artistic importance of her otherwise marginal part.
Standing in her way is Jerry, the production’s domineering director, played by Giamatti. The trailer shows him pushing Mona to her limits as rehearsals become increasingly intense and the struggle for control threatens to consume the entire production. Halle Bailey appears as a fellow performer who warns Mona that Jerry will test her, while Eisenberg also joins the community theatre troupe.
Cara Buono, Craig Bierko, Eldar Isgandarov and Broadway legend Bernadette Peters complete the cast.
The Debut is Eisenberg’s third film as a director following When You Finish Saving the World and the Oscar-winning A Real Pain. He also wrote the screenplay and reunites with producers Emma Stone, Dave McCary, Ali Herting and Topic Studios.
For CultureCues, the trailer builds plenty of intrigue without giving too much away. The Debut looks wonderfully strange, and the escalating rivalry at its centre only makes it more promising. The stage may be small, but the drama clearly will not be. We are definitely looking forward to seeing how this one unfolds.
The Debut is expected to open in cinemas later in 2026.
Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.