Julianne Moore will go to any lengths for a bit part.
The Oscar-winning actress plays a shy New Jersey housewife who becomes an obsessive method actor in The Debut, a comedy penned and helmed by Jesse Eisenberg. According to the official trailer uploaded by A24, the film is a “laugh-till-you-cry instant classic.”
The Debut is set to be released in select theaters in the United States on December 11 and nationwide on Christmas Day.
Moore, the recipient of the Oscar for Best Actress for Still Alice, will play Mona Friedman. After securing a minor role in a small community theater, Mona evolves from a demure housewife into an intense method actor who will do anything to preserve the artistic integrity of her minor role. Her dedication leads her into conflict with the domineering theater director.
Jerry, the director of the community theater, will be played by Oscar-nominated actor Paul Giamatti, known for his roles in Cinderella Man and The Holdovers.
Jerry is described as “the biggest name in New Jersey community theater.” It was compared to Whiplash in the world of community theater.
In addition to Moore, the film’s cast includes Halle Bailey, Eisenberg, Cara Buono, Craig Bierko, Eldar Isgandarov, and Bernadette Peters.
Mona gets her big break when she joins the cast of an original musical called Nosy Neighbors, in which she plays the building superintendent. Eisenberg composed the music and lyrics for the show within the film.
Eisenberg loves musical theater and describes it as the best thing in the world. But during his teenage years, he realized he wasn’t talented enough to perform. Hence, he took up writing musicals instead.
Andy Blankenbuehler, the choreographer of Hamilton, staged the film’s musical numbers. Emma Stone and Dave McCary are among the film’s producers.
Eisenberg has said the story of Mona stemmed from his childhood experiences performing in New Jersey community theater.
“When I was younger, I was terrified of the world,” he once told The Hollywood Reporter, describing how nice people in those theaters had been to him.
Eisenberg wrote the lead role of Mona, keeping Moore in mind. During the film’s London premiere, he praised Moore as “the greatest actress in the world,” Reuters reported.
Moore described the screenplay as convincing.
“This was one of the best scripts I have ever read,” Moore told AARP.
According to Moore, Mona’s journey is all about finding a sense of belonging. “She finds a community for the first time,” Moore explained.
The Debut is Eisenberg’s third film as a director. His first film was 2022’s When You Finish Saving the World starring Moore. His second film A Real Pain from 2024 has helped Kieran Culkin win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and Eisenberg earn a nomination for original screenplay. The Social Network earned him his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor for playing Mark Zuckerberg.
Eisenberg decided to direct The Debut instead of reprising his role of Zuckerberg in Aaron Sorkin’s sequel The Social Reckoning.
The Debut has screened in film festivals in Telluride, Zurich, Toronto, and New York. In Zurich, Moore received the festival’s Golden Icon Award.
The Debut has closed the 70th BFI London Film Festival on Oct. 18, with artistic director Kristy Matheson describing the film as a “deliriously funny and heartfelt film.” Moore received a lifetime achievement award at the Rome Film Festival, presented to her by Eisenberg.
The Debut has an R rating and is 105 minutes long. Lionsgate is releasing the film in British theaters on Jan. 15, 2027.
