James L. Brooks continues to be one of the most revered and influential voices in comedy. In his decades-long career, Brooks co-created the hit sitcoms The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, and The Simpsons, giving him over 60 Emmy Award nominations and winning over 20 of them. He also directed such acclaimed, Academy-Award-winning/nominated comedy films as Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News, and As Good As It Gets.
Despite such a prestigious career in creating comedy, Brooks has been away from the spotlight for several years. His last notable film as writer and director was 2010’s How Do You Know. The rom-com starring Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson, and Jack Nicholson was met with poor reviews, 31% on Rotten Tomatoes, and only made $48.7 million at the box office.
After a nearly 15-year hiatus following the bomb, Brooks has come back to the director’s chair with a new political comedy drama film with several stars and a hilarious-looking story about dysfunctional families.
Ella McCay Is James L. Brooks’ Big Hollywood Return – And It Feels Like A Throwback Comedy
Audiences have finally been treated to a new trailer for Brooks’s upcoming comedy drama film, Ella McCay. The movie revolves around the тιтular woman, played by Emma Mackey (Sєx Education and Barbie), who has just become governor of her home state as she reunites with her dysfunctional family, leading to all sorts of hilarious hijinks that are common in the director’s works.
However, given the trailer’s emphasis on other characters outside Ella’s family, it seems the movie will be an ensemble comedy. The movie boasts an all-star cast with some Oscar winners/nominees and many renowned comedy actors. Mackey’s co-stars include Jamie Lee Curtis, Kumail Nanjiani, Ayo Edebiri, Albert Brooks, and Woody Harrelson. Marge Simpson’s voice actor, Julie Kavner, will also appear in the film as its comedic narrator.
Overall, Ella McCay has presented itself to be a hysterical, emotional, and star-studded film with an emphasis on politics and comedy. The last time a major studio put out an ensemble movie like this was probably in 2001 with Wes Anderson and Buena Vista Pictures’ The Royal Tenenbaums.
The film seems to have been made on a mid-level budget, as opposed to the $120 million price tag of Brooks’ last movie, with 20th Century Studios distributing. Ella McCay has great potential for success at the box office, then. Comedies have fared well this year, with The Naked Gun and One of Them Days having good showings.
Movies like Ella McCay, which feature a blend of heartfelt drama and laugh-out-loud comedy, have become rarer in recent years, with few films achieving critical and commercial success in theaters. However, since comedy icon James L. Brooks helmed the production and has received support from some well-known actors and companies, it presents itself as a worthwhile watch for fans of classic comedies when it premieres in theaters on December 12, 2025.
