The Musical (2026)

Jesse Eisenberg’s third directorial outing, a musical comedy starring Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti, is set to open the Vancouver Film Festival on Oct. 1 after dazzling audiences at Telluride and Toronto. The film, which Eisenberg also wrote the songs and lyrics for, has already sparked Oscar chatter – Moore is a front‑runner for best actress, while Eisenberg himself earned a nomination for best original screenplay and celebrates Kieran Culkin’s recent supporting‑actor win. The story follows meek housewife Mona Friedman (Moore), who is unexpectedly cast in a local community‑theatre production. As she dives into the role under a demanding director, Mona discovers a new voice and a chance to escape a life she feels is a “death sentence.” Eisenberg says the tale mirrors his own 1990 New Jersey community‑theatre experiences, where he found refuge from fear and bullying. Beyond the personal stakes, the ensemble boasts a who’s‑who of talent – Halle Bailey, Havana Rose Liu, Bernadette Peters, Colton Ryan, Lilli Cooper, Maulik Pancholy and Bonnie Milligan – all contributing to a film that Eisenberg hopes will be judged on its artistic perseverance rather than awards. With A24 mounting an Oscar campaign, the movie promises both heartfelt humor and a look at the precarious life of artists trying to stay sane in a volatile industry.