Movies
Jesse Eisenberg Closes the London Film Festival With “The Debut”
The actor-director’s musical had its UK premiere at the Royal Festival Hall, where he reflected on how a Razzie shaped his career.
Jesse Eisenberg had the honour of sending off one of the year's major film events. His directorial feature “The Debut” closed the 70th BFI London Film Festival with its UK premiere on October 18, 2026, at the Royal Festival Hall. Closing a festival of that size is a prime slot, and it put Eisenberg's latest work as a director in the spotlight.
A musical with a crowded call sheet
“The Debut” is a musical centred on a shy woman who is cast in a local production, a premise that lends itself naturally to song and to the nerves and thrills of stepping on stage. For a story about finding your voice, the musical form fits neatly.
The cast is a notable one. It includes Julianne Moore, Paul Giamatti, Halle Bailey, Havana Rose Liu and Bernadette Peters, a lineup that mixes established screen names with performers bringing their own strengths to a musical. This is not Eisenberg's first visit to the festival as a filmmaker; his previous film shown there was “A Real Pain” in 2024, so his return with “The Debut” continues a relationship with the event.
Reflecting on a Razzie
At the festival, Eisenberg spoke candidly about a moment from earlier in his career. He discussed winning a Golden Raspberry, the award known as a Razzie, for Worst Supporting Actor for playing Lex Luthor in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” The award was for 2016.
By his account, the Razzie had real consequences. Eisenberg said the award hurt his prospects for studio roles, and that the industry stopped wanting him for big superhero-style parts. In other words, a tongue-in-cheek prize aimed at poking fun had a genuine effect on the kinds of projects that came his way afterward.
It is a frank reflection from a performer who has since built much of his recent profile behind the camera as well as in front of it. Talking openly about a career setback, rather than brushing past it, offered festival audiences a candid look at how one award can ripple through the roles an actor is offered.
A fitting close
Bringing all of this together at the Royal Festival Hall made for a memorable closing night: a filmmaker closing a major festival with an ambitious musical and a sizeable cast, while being open about the bumps that helped steer him toward this chapter. For audiences at the Royal Festival Hall, it was both a premiere and a candid conversation rolled into one.
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