A24 has unveiled the first trailer for The Debut, the latest directorial effort from Jesse Eisenberg following the critical success of A Real Pain.
Written and directed by Eisenberg, the R-rated musical comedy stars Julianne Moore as Mona Friedman, a reserved housewife whose life takes an unexpected turn when she’s cast in a small role in a local community theater production. What begins as a modest creative outlet quickly spirals into an all-consuming obsession as Mona transforms into a fiercely committed method actor determined to protect the artistic integrity of her role at all costs.
Standing in her way is Jerry, the production’s demanding and larger-than-life director, played by Paul Giamatti. The trailer teases a tense and often hilarious dynamic between the pair, with Jerry relentlessly pushing Mona beyond her limits in pursuit of theatrical greatness.
The film also stars Halle Bailey, who appears as one of Mona’s fellow performers and offers an early warning about the director’s intense methods.
“Jerry is going to test you, and push you, and drag you through the mud,” her character tells Mona in the trailer.
As Mona becomes increasingly immersed in the production, the line between performance and reality begins to blur, setting the stage for a comedic yet chaotic journey through the world of community theater.
In addition to Moore, Giamatti, Bailey, and Eisenberg, The Debut features an ensemble cast that includes Bernadette Peters, Cara Buono, Craig Bierko, Eldar Isgandarov, Havana Rose Liu, Bonnie Milligan, Colton Ryan, Lilli Cooper, and Maulik Pancholy.
The project reunites Eisenberg with A24 and producer Emma Stone through her Fruit Tree banner. It also marks another collaboration between Eisenberg and Moore, who previously starred in his directorial debut, When You Finish Saving the World.
Following the Oscar-winning success of A Real Pain, which earned Eisenberg widespread praise as a filmmaker, The Debut looks poised to continue his streak of character-driven stories, this time with music, comedy, and community theater taking center stage.
The Debut is expected to arrive from A24 this fall. Watch the newly released trailer above.