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James L. Brooks' political comedy-drama featuring Emma Mackey, Ella McCay, is set for a wide theatrical release on December 12, 2025.
The film's ensemble cast also features Jamie Lee Curtis, Woody Harrelson, Kumail Nanjiani, and Emmy winner Ayo Edebiri, with comedic appearances by Albert Brooks and the voice of Julie Kavner (Marge Simpson) as the narrator.
Set during 2008, the film's plot centers on Ella McCay (played by Mackey), an idealistic young woman whose life takes an unexpected, sharp turn when she is suddenly promoted from lieutenant governor to the governor of her home state after her mentor accepts a position in Washington.
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Emma Mackey to lead the cast of James L. Brooks' Ella McCay
Starring in the lead role, Emma Mackey is most famous for her role as Maeve Wiley in Netflix's comedy-drama series Sex Education (2019-2023). For her role in the series, Mackey earned a British Academy Television Award nomination for Best Female Comedy Performance.
Upon casting Mackey for the title role, director Brooks stated:
“I knew her work a little from Sex Education, and we met during a long hunt to find the actor to play the title role. We looked everywhere, and I was auditioning for a long time. I went to London and that’s where I first saw her. She did a monologue from the movie, and I knew. There’s a radiance to her.”
Most recently, Mackey gained massive global recognition by appearing as Physicist Barbie in the highly successful fantasy comedy film Barbie (2023), alongside two of her Sex Education co-stars. The French-British actress also appeared in films such as Death on the Nile, Emily, and, more recently, in the body horror drama film Alpha.
She is also set to appear in a major role in Greta Gerwig's upcoming fantasy film, Narnia: The Magician's Nephew, which is slated for a November 2026 release.
Besides Mackey, Ella McCay also features Jamie Lee Curtis, Jack Lowden, Woody Harrelson, Rebecca Hall, Kumail Nanjiani and Spike Fearn, among other actors.
Ella McCay trailer and production details
James L. Brooks’s upcoming political comedy film marks the Academy Award-winner's return to the director's chair after a fifteen-year hiatus.
Principal photography for the film commenced in Rhode Island on February 1, 2024, utilizing various locations across the state, including Providence. It was initially announced as wrapped by early May 2024, though additional scenes were reportedly scheduled for shooting in March 2025 in Rhode Island, as well as in Cleveland and New Orleans.
While the film's cinematography is being handled by Oscar-winning veteran Robert Elswit (There Will Be Blood), the musical score will be provided by Hans Zimmer, marking the latter's fifth collaboration with director Brooks.
Ella McCay will be released on December 12, 2025. Stay tuned for more updates.
