After nearly two decades away from the director’s chair, James L. Brooks – the mind behind Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News, and The Simpsons – is back. His new film, Ella McCay, is a political comedy led by Emma Mackey in her most complex role yet. It’s a story of power, dysfunction, and screaming into the void – both literally and emotionally.

Watch the first trailer

Who is involved?

Mackey stars as Ella, a newly-elected state governor trying to do good while her personal life threatens to unravel. She’s joined by an ensemble of dreams: Jamie Lee Curtis plays her sharp, unsentimental aunt Helen, and Woody Harrelson appears as Ella’s estranged father, Eddie. Jack Lowden plays Ella’s husband, alongside Kumail Nanjiani, Ayo Edebiri, Rebecca Hall, Julie Kavner, Albert Brooks, and more.

Behind the scenes, the film is written and directed by Brooks, produced with his longtime collaborators, and narrated (fittingly) by Kavner, whose voice many will instantly recognise as Marge Simpson.

What is the film about?

On the surface, the film is about a 34-year-old woman who becomes governor and tries to balance state politics with complicated family dynamics. Beneath it all, it's about maternal absence, complicated romance, and strength, as politics collide with tearful memories, unwanted reunions, and one unforgettable moment of cathartic screaming (as voiced in the trailer) — all the while, making us laugh along the way. There are also plenty of sub plots, including a hopeful romantic reunion between Ella's brother and his girlfriend (played by Edebiri), as well as a new relationship for her father.

When does it come out?

Ella McCay opens in cinemas on 12 December 2025 — just in time for awards season, but also perfectly placed for feel-good holiday viewing.

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