The 70th BFI London Film Festival came to a triumphant close on Sunday, October 18, as Jesse Eisenberg’s musical comedy “The Debut” had its UK premiere at the Royal Festival Hall. Taking the stage before a packed house, star Julianne Moore called the screenplay “one of the best scripts I’ve ever read” — high praise from an Oscar winner that set the tone for a glowing closing night.
Julianne Moore (Credits: Variety)
A Mutual Admiration Society on Stage
Director Jesse Eisenberg and Moore introduced the film together, and the affection between them was obvious. “I mean, this movie stars my favorite person, Julianne Moore,” Eisenberg told the audience, adding with characteristic self-deprecation that “ironically, strangely, it’s the story of my life.”
Written and directed by Eisenberg, “The Debut” stars Moore as Mona Friedman, a shy New Jersey housewife who auditions for a part in her local theatre’s production of a fictional musical called “Nosy Neighbors.” Cast in the supporting role of Miss Danielle, Mona’s life begins to unravel as she becomes consumed by the part and falls under the spell of the production’s strong-willed director, Jerry Blankenbuehler — played by Paul Giamatti.
The ensemble around them is stacked: Halle Bailey, Havana Rose Liu, Bernadette Peters, Colton Ryan, Lilli Cooper, Maulik Pancholy and Bonnie Milligan, with Eisenberg himself also appearing in the cast.
Eisenberg’s Triumphant LFF Return
The closing-night slot marks a homecoming for Eisenberg, who premiered his previous directorial effort, “A Real Pain,” at the London Film Festival in 2024. BFI artistic director Kristy Matheson hailed the filmmaker’s return, calling “The Debut” a “deliriously funny and heartfelt film” with “knockout performances and brilliantly sharp script” — the kind of movie that would leave audiences “in its thrall and renewed by the joyous and soulful power of cinema.”
Eisenberg himself said he was “both honored and honoured” to close the 70th edition of the festival, telling the crowd he could not wait to share the cast’s “incredible performances” with a London audience.
When Can You See It?
The film already premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival before its London closing-night bow, and audiences will not have to wait long to see what Moore is raving about. “The Debut” opens in US cinemas on December 11, 2026, with Lionsgate releasing it in the UK on January 15, 2027.
If the closing-night reception is anything to go by, Eisenberg has another critical darling on his hands — and Moore may have found one of the defining roles of her late career in shy, unraveling Mona Friedman.
Source: Variety — read the full story there.
