Entertainment · Film · 1 hr ago
Jesse Eisenberg’s ‘The Debut’ closes London Film Festival
Jesse Eisenberg’s musical comedy The Debut closed the London Film Festival at the Royal Festival Hall in London.
The film is written and directed by Eisenberg, and Julianne Moore stars as a New Jersey housewife who auditions for a community theater musical.
Her character, Mona Friedman, gets a supporting role and becomes increasingly absorbed in the part, while falling under the spell of the show’s director, played by Paul Giamatti.
Eisenberg said his own childhood experience in community theater inspired the story.
Moore called the screenplay one of the best she has ever read, and the film drew strong reviews after its premiere at the Telluride Film Festival.
The Debut is set to reach theaters on Dec.
11 through A24.
Jesse Eisenberg’s musical comedy The Debut closed the BFI London Film Festival on Sunday night.
The film stars Julianne Moore as a housewife who joins a community theater production directed by a character played by Paul Giamatti.
Eisenberg said Giamatti could not attend because he had COVID-19.
Eisenberg and Moore praised each other and discussed the film’s roots in Eisenberg’s experience with community theater.
The Debut is set to open in theaters on Dec. 11 via A24.
- Who
- Director Jesse Eisenberg and star Julianne Moore presented the film. Paul Giamatti also stars.
- What
- The Debut, a musical comedy, closed the BFI London Film Festival.
- When
- Sunday night; the articles were published on Oct. 18, 2026.
- Where
- Royal Festival Hall in London.
- Why
- It was selected to close the festival; the sources do not state why it was chosen.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Debut premiered at the Telluride Film Festival.
The film closed the BFI London Film Festival at Royal Festival Hall.
The Debut is set to open in theaters via A24.
- Director
- Jesse Eisenberg
- Lead actor
- Julianne Moore
- Festival
- BFI London Film Festival
- Venue
- Royal Festival Hall, London
- U.S. theatrical release
- Dec. 11 via A24
2 sources
What people are saying
I wanted to write about that experience in my life, but I could only picture Julianne, to the point where I was writing it and she was inspiring me.
I love it more than I’ve ever loved anything I’ve made.
I wish he could be here. He is the greatest guy and you would love to hear him talk.
It’s one of the best scripts I’ve ever read in my entire life.
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Julianne Moore says Jesse Eisenberg’s #TheDebut was “one of the best scripts I’ve ever read in my life.” The film closes the #BFILondonFilmFestival tonight.