# Release of Jesse Eisenberg film ‘The Debut’ > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/release-of-jesse-eisenberg-film-the-debut > Updated: 2026-09-14T00:20:03.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2. Jesse Eisenberg’s directorial feature, ‘The Debut’ (also referred to as ‘The Grand Debut’ or ‘A Grande Estreia’), has premiered at several festivals to critical acclaim, including Telluride and the Toronto International Film Festival. Produced by A24 and Emma Stone, the comedy stars Julianne Moore as Mona Friedman, a housewife who undergoes a surreal transformation after joining a community theater production. Critics have described Moore’s performance as a “career-high” as she portrays a woman increasingly consumed by her character. The film also features Paul Giamatti as a tyrannical director, alongside Halle Bailey and Bernadette Peters. Following the initial buzz, Eisenberg admitted that the resulting Oscar speculation causes him “pure terror” due to the vulnerability of releasing creative work to public opinion. While earlier schedules suggested a December release, the film is now slated for a theatrical release on January 28. A24 is reportedly focusing its Academy Award campaign on the song ‘This City May Have Chewed Me Up (But It Hasn’t Spit Me Out)’, performed by Moore. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-14: Jesse Eisenberg’s ‘The Debut’ receives critical acclaim at film festival Jesse Eisenberg’s new film ‘The Debut,’ starring Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti, has received critical acclaim following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/jesse-eisenbergs-the-debut-premieres-at-toronto-international-film-festival ### 2026-09-06: Jesse Eisenberg’s ‘The Debut’ premieres at Telluride Film Festival Jesse Eisenberg’s new film ‘The Debut’, starring Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti, premiered at Telluride. A24 plans a December release with an Oscar push for its original music. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/jesse-eisenbergs-the-debut-premieres-at-telluride-film-festival --- Cite as: Release of Jesse Eisenberg film ‘The Debut’. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/release-of-jesse-eisenberg-film-the-debut