Jesse Eisenberg and Julianne Moore on ‘The Debut,’ Testing AI to ‘Make Sure It’s Bad’ and Hoping ‘Now You See Me 4’ Gets Made

Jesse Eisenberg and Julianne Moore discussed their film *The Debut*, an A24 musical comedy in which Moore plays a shy housewife who auditions for community theatre. Eisenberg wrote the role for her and directed, produced, scored and stars in the film. Its strong response at Telluride and other festivals has brought it into the awards-season conversation.

Eisenberg recalled panicking when Telluride audiences applauded during a scene, worrying that the next, more dramatic moment might not land. Moore described her character as a woman on the brink of change, while Eisenberg praised Moore’s unusual ability to bring comedy into dramatic roles. The film opens in cinemas on 11 December; Eisenberg also spoke about industry anxieties, testing AI to confirm it was bad, and hoping a fourth *Now You See Me* film gets made.