Ella McCay is an American comedy-dramawritten and directed by James L. Brooks, produced by 20th Century Studios. The Oscar and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker of Terrible Love and producer of The Simpsons returns with a story about human connections and the fragile balance between private life and ambition. The film, originally scheduled for release in February, will finally be released exclusively in theaters on January 7, 2026.
Ella McCay, a young idealist, seeks to reconcile her professional aspirations and personal life in a world where relationships and choices shape destinies. With humor and sensitivity, James L. Brooks chronicles the contradictions of the times and the compromises that everyone must accept in order to move forward.
Produced by James L. Brooks, Richard Sakai, Julie Ansell, and Jennifer Brooks, the film features an original score by Hans Zimmer. Through Ella McCay, Brooks pays tribute to the golden age of American comedy while infusing it with contemporary energy. He describes the film as "a tribute to the human comedy and zany spirit of American classics."
The film brings together a large international cast: Emma Mackey ( Barbie, Sex Education), Jamie Lee Curtis (Everything Everywhere All At Once, Freaky Friday), Jack Lowden (Dunkirk, Slow Horses), as well as Kumail Nanjiani, Ayo Edebiri, Spike Fearn, Julie Kavner, Rebecca Hall, Becky Ann Baker, Joey Brooks, Albert Brooks, and Woody Harrelson. This multigenerational cast supports the film's warm and human tone.
Ella McCay
Film | 2026
In theaters January 7, 2026
Original title: Ella McCay
Nationality: U.S.A.
With its blend of lightheartedness and depth, Ella McCay follows in the tradition of James L. Brooks' films, exploring with humor and humanity the bonds that unite and disrupt lives.
To extend your theater experience, check out January's new releases, films currently showing, and our selection of comedy-dramas of the year.
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