Jesse Eisenberg brought his latest directorial effort to Lincoln Center on Wednesday evening, as his musical-comedy-drama "The Debut" premiered at Alice Tully Hall during the 2026 New York Film Festival.
Eisenberg wrote, directed and stars in the film alongside Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti. Fellow cast members Halle Bailey and Bernadette Peters walked the carpet, as did producers Emma Stone, Dave McCary and Ali Herting of Fruit Tree.
The official synopsis follows housewife Mona Friedman, who lands a bit part at a community theatre and transforms into a zealous method actor warring with the show's domineering director — a premise that leans into Eisenberg's knack for anxious, hyper-verbal comedy.
"The Debut" opens in theatres December 11, positioning it as a late-year awards-season play for the festival darling.
