Jesse Eisenberg Reveals 'The Debut' Is Deeply Personal, Praises Julianne Moore's "Insane" Performance

Jesse Eisenberg says 'The Debut' is inspired by his own life, praises Julianne Moore's "insane" performance

Washington DC, June 30

Speaking to People at the Los Angeles premiere of 'Minions & Monsters', Eisenberg shared details about the A24 film, which stars Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti in lead roles.

Praising Moore's performance, Eisenberg said, "Julianne Moore has an amazing singing voice, and I think that will really ... Well, she's been in musicals. She was in Dear Evan Hansen, but she is like a dynamo in this, and she gives an insane performance."

Written and directed by Eisenberg, The Debut follows Mona (Moore), a shy housewife whose life changes after she lands a small role in a community theatre production led by veteran director Jerry, played by Paul Giamatti.

Opening up about the inspiration behind the film, Eisenberg said, "It's really a movie about my life. In 1990, I got into community theater, and it was life-changing and terrifying, and I treated it with so much importance, even though it was just a silly local play, and that's what the movie is kind of following, that spirit."

"I hope people like it," he added, as quoted by People.

According to the film's official synopsis, Mona is "cast in a bit part at a small community theater" and gradually 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," according to People.

The trailer shows Mona stepping out of her quiet home life to audition for the role of Miss Danielle in a community theatre production. After being told she was "the only person to audition," she lands the role, beginning her theatrical journey.

A fellow cast member, played by Halle Bailey, warns Mona, "Jerry is going to test you, and push you, and drag you through the mud," while describing the director as "brilliant, but he's not here to be your friend."

The film also features Jesse Eisenberg, Havana Rose Liu, Cara Buono, Craig Bierko, Eldar Isgandarov and Bernadette Peters.

'The Debut' marks Eisenberg's third feature as a writer-director following A Real Pain (2024), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

Eisenberg is currently promoting Minions & Monsters, in which he voices Dort, a robot-alien admired by the minions. The animated film is set to release in theatres on July 1, while The Debut is slated to premiere later this year, according to People.

— ANI