The Debut

The Debut

American musical comedy-drama written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg. Julianne Moore stars as Mona Friedman, a reserved woman who develops an increasingly consuming passion for community theater. Also starring Paul Giamatti and Halle Bailey, the film closed the 70th BFI London Film Festival on October 18, 2026.

Director
Jesse Eisenberg
Studio
-
Distribution
A24, Lionsgate
Release
Runtime
1h 45m
Genres
Comedy, Drama, Musical

News

News

Julianne Moore and Jesse Eisenberg close the London Film Festival with The Debut

Julianne Moore is familiar with major premieres, but The Debut brought a particularly personal celebration. On October 18, 2026, she joined Jesse Eisenberg at London's Royal Festival Hall to close the 70th BFI London Film Festival, praising his screenplay as one of the finest she had encountered. Eisenberg wrote the leading role specifically for her, creating the story of a reserved woman who discovers community theater as a way to be seen before becoming consumed by her performance. Following A Real Pain, the actor and filmmaker has returned with a musical comedy about artistic obsession, belonging and the complicated desire to become someone else.

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