Jesse Eisenberg’s Untitled A24 Musical Wows Test Audiences — 'Black Swan' With a Woody Allen Twist?

Following the news cycle around A24 always feels rewarding, since the studio rarely plays it safe. So when I heard that Jesse Eisenberg’s third feature — still untitled — had test audiences buzzing, I leaned in.

The musical follows Julianne Moore as a painfully awkward housewife who joins acting classes and takes method to extremes. Early viewers described it as part eccentric character study, part dark comedy. One even likened it to Black Swan, but reimagined with Woody Allen’s whimsical touch. Not a comparison you hear every day, is it?

Eisenberg’s Leap Into Musicals

This marks Eisenberg’s third outing as director, after When You Finish Saving the World and A Real Pain. Alongside Moore and Giamatti — whose chemistry drew praise and whose performance was called 'awards-worthy' — the cast includes Halle Bailey, Bernadette Peters, Maulik Pancholy and Eisenberg himself.

Drew Daniels’ cinematography and Emile Mosseri’s score reportedly complete the picture with style.

Early Buzz

Test audiences laughed throughout, embracing the odd mix of humour and obsession. The film is expected in 2026, with Sundance a likely launch pad, just as with Eisenberg’s first two features. For me, an A24 musical that blends whimsy with darkness is already irresistible.