[REVISION HISTORY]

Release and festival run of Jesse Eisenberg’s ‘The Debut’

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2026-10-20 06:10 UTC → 2026-10-21 20:11 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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, Toronto, New York, Zurich, and London. Produced by A24 and Emma Stone, the musical 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” or “towering” and “sympathetic,” as she portrays a woman undergoing an “astounding emotional spiral.” Moore has also praised the project, calling it “one of the best scripts I’ve ever read in my entire life.” Eisenberg, who wrote, directed, and co-produced the film, noted that the project was created specifically for Moore and is partially inspired by his own childhood in central New Jersey. He shared that the story contains autobiographical elements regarding his time in drama school and how community theater helped him overcome shyness and depression. The film also features Paul Giamatti as a tyrannical director, Jerry Blankenbuehler, alongside Halle Bailey and Bernadette Peters. At the 74th San Sebastián International Film Festival, the film won the Feroz Award and was recognized as a contender for the Golden Mask. ~~Additionally,~~ It has also gained awards momentum at the Middleburg Film Festival, where it won the audience award. 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 and written by Eisenberg. ~~Eisenberg has revealed he wrote and produced seven original songs for the soundtrack.~~ While earlier schedules suggested a January 28 release, the film is now scheduled for a limited theatrical release on December 11, followed by a wide release during the Christmas season. The film has also been selected as the opening night attraction for the 2026 Woodstock Film Festival and the Middleburg Film Festival.

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