Paul Giamatti Breaks Julianne Moore in Jesse Eisenberg’s The Debut: Watch the Trailer

Jesse Eisenberg’s follow-up to *A Real Pain*, *The Debut*, is a backstage comedy that puts Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti at its centre. Its trailer previews a clash between an actor and a director, with the film already seen as a possible awards contender, particularly for the two leads.

Moore plays Mona Friedman, a shy housewife cast in a small role at a community theatre who becomes an intense method actor determined to defend her part’s artistic integrity. Giamatti plays the show’s domineering director; the cast also includes Eisenberg, Halle Bailey, Cara Buono and Bernadette Peters. The film opens in select cinemas on 11 December 2026.