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

Writer/director Jesse Eisenberg doesn’t take the spotlight in his follow-up to the Oscar-winning A Real Pain. Instead, he gives the stage — literally and figuratively — to Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti in The Debut. The new trailer for the A24 backstage comedy features the two actors going head to head as actor and director.

The official description for The Debut reveals that “when Mona Friedman is cast in a bit part at a small community theater, she transforms from a shy, unassuming housewife into a zealous method actor willing to do anything to protect the artistic integrity of her marginal role — even if it means waging war against the show’s domineering director.” The film also stars Eisenberg, Halle Bailey, Cara Buono, Craig Bierko, Eldar Isgandarov, and Bernadette Peters.

The Debut is considered a major awards contender this year, especially for Moore and Giamatti’s performances (similar to how Kieran Culkin won Best Supporting Actor for his work in A Real Pain). Check out the trailer below — the movie arrives in select theaters on December 11th, 2026.