The Debut, Jesse Eisenberg’s third directorial feature, just had its world premiere screening at the Telluride Film Festival. Eisenberg not only directed the A24 film, which stars Oscar winner Julianne Moore as a housewife cast in a community theater production, but, The Hollywood Reporter can exclusively report,he also wrote all seven of the original songs featured in it — accounting for nearly an hour of music— and one of those tunes, “This City May Have Chewed Me Up (But It Hasn’t Spit Me Out),” which Moore performs in the film, will be the focus of a best original song awards push.
While there remains a possibility that A24 will opt to submit other songs from the film for Oscar consideration, as well — studios can submit up to three,but no more than two can be nominated — the company regards “This City May Have Chewed Me Up (But It Hasn’t Spit Me Out)” as its top prospect and priority.
In addition to Eisenberg, others who have written or co-written songs that are in contention this season include Taylor Swift (“I Knew It, I Knew You” from Toy Story 5), Travis Scott (“When I’m Home” from The Odyssey), David Byrne (“Let Me Sell You a Dream” from Musk), Backstreet Boys (“Bottle Up” from Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie), SZA (“Save the Day” from Hoppers) and, as ever, Diane Warren (“By Any Means” from By Any Means).
Emile Mosseri, a best original score Oscar nominee for Minari, composed an original score for The Debut, as well.
The Debut will next screen at the Toronto, New York and Zurich film festivals (Moore will receive a lifetime achievement award in Zurich) en route to a limited release on Dec. 11 and a wide release over Christmas.