#FIRSTLOOK: “ELLA MCCAY” ARRIVES ON HULU FEBRUARY 5, 2026

Sharing the story of family life in all its challenging and comedic moments – plus everything in between – 20th Century Studios’ Ella McCay streams exclusively on Hulu on Disney+ starting February 5, 2026.

After a long stint producing movies such as The Edge of Seventeen and Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret as well as long-standing series work on The Simpsons, James L. Brooks felt the need to channel his energy into writing an original story again. “My goal for this movie was to pay tribute, as best I could, to the golden age of movie comedy, the 1940s and 50s…the challenge all along was to maintain the same zany spirit of that era, while still taking seriously the inevitable jolts, pains and pitfalls of being human,” Brooks explains. While Brooks’ screenplay delves into early life trauma and its long-lasting effects, Ella McCay is essentially about recognizing love and creating a sense of family wherever we are lucky enough to find it, no matter how complicated the characters in that family may be.

20th Century Studios’ Ella McCay invites viewers to follow a path of human drama with welcome detours into unexpected comedic moments, leading to the heart-warming destination that reveals “there is no opposite word for trauma, but hope comes close.”

Film Synopsis
Ella McCay follows an idealistic young woman juggling her less-than-perfect family with her passion for her work. From writer-director James L. Brooks, this fresh and heartwarming comedy is about the people you love and how to survive them.

Ella McCay features an all-star cast including Emma Mackey, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jack Lowden, Kumail Nanjiani, Ayo Edebiri, Spike Fearn, Rebecca Hall, Julie Kavner, Becky Ann Baker, Joey Brooks with Albert Brooks and Woody Harrelson. The film is produced by James L. Brooks, p.g.a., Richard Sakai, p.g.a., Julie Ansell, p.g.a., Jennifer Brooks.