A24 has just unveiled the first trailer for The Debut, the musical directed by Jesse Eisenberg, featuring Julianne Moore in full command.
Although he declined to reprise the role of Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network 2, Jesse Eisenberg continues to appear in franchises like Now You See Me, while pursuing his career as a filmmaker. Indeed, in 2022 he directed When You Finish Saving the World (released direct-to-VOD in France) and in 2025, A Real Pain, which was highly praised by critics. For his third film, The Debut, the filmmaker is involved at every level and also writes the screenplay and composes the score, all at once.
This inaugural musical is therefore a formidable challenge, paired with an impressive cast: in the lead roles we find Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti, with Halle Bailey (The Little Mermaid), Havana Rose Liu (Bottoms, The Virtuoso), Bernadette Peters (Tick, Tick… Boom!, All the Gold of the Sky) or Colton Ryan (Dear Evan Hansen, The Girl from Plainville). The first trailer for The Debut has just been released and it already whets the appetite to see all these actors back on screen as soon as possible.
The Debut: Rehearsal
Mona (Julianne Moore) is a housewife leading a quietly ordinary life—until, to her surprise, she finds herself drawn into the production of a musical. Jerry (Paul Giamatti), the ruthless director, does not hesitate to push her to the limit. Mona gradually loses herself to merge with her role, upending her peaceful existence.
In this first trailer, Paul Giamatti already appears perfectly at ease in this unlikeable role, reminiscent of the gruff professor he played in Winter Break. Meanwhile, Julianne Moore demonstrates a wide emotional range in just a few shots, showcasing a richly varied performance that matches the regard in which she is held. This initial glimpse already makes one eager to see this musical comedy, which seems at once funny and moving.
For the moment, no release date has been announced for The Debut. It is still possible to hear Jesse Eisenberg’s voice in a small role in Minions and Monsters, in theaters on June 24.
