The Debut: New Trailer Reveals Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti

A24 has released a new trailer for The Debut, a new musical comedy-drama written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg (A Real Pain) and starring Julianne Moore (The Room Next Door) and Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers). The preview features never-before-seen footage.

The story follows Mona Friedman (Julianne Moore), a shy and unassuming housewife who, after feeling increasingly invisible within her own family, decides to seek out a new experience and auditions for a musical at a community theater.

Despite landing only a small role in the production, Mona becomes deeply devoted to her character and immerses herself in the world of acting. Her dedication, however, eventually turns into an obsession, leading her into conflict with Jerry (Paul Giamatti), the show’s domineering director.

Determined to defend what she considers the artistic integrity of her character, Mona begins challenging the director’s demands and turns her seemingly insignificant participation into a full-fledged battle of egos. Throughout the story, the theater becomes an opportunity for the protagonist to rediscover her identity, express repressed feelings, and find a renewed sense of purpose.

The cast of The Debut includes Julianne Moore as Mona Friedman, a shy housewife who becomes deeply involved in community theater, and Paul Giamatti as Jerry, the show’s domineering director. The production also features Halle Bailey as Stef, Bernadette Peters as Serena Cherry, and Jesse Eisenberg, who also stars as Todd in addition to directing and writing the film. The supporting cast includes Cara Buono, Craig Bierko, Eldar Isgandarov, K. Todd Freeman, and Susan Blommaert, among others.