James L. Brooks’ new comedy Ella McCay features a star-studded cast, and all the major players have appeared in recognizable films before. Ella McCay represents the triumphant return of Brooks to the big screen after 15 years away from the director’s chair. The multiple-time Oscar-winner is the master of dramedy, and his 2025 offering continues that trend.
Besides his firm grasp of the language of cinema, Brooks films shine because he is brilliant at picking the perfect ensemble. Classics like Terms of Endearment and Broadcast News aren’t just well-made movies, they are showcases for the talent onscreen. This helps make his movies feel special, because the stars themselves help elevate the finished product.
Ella McCay continues Brooks’ penchant of using a healthy mix of different actors, from established legends to rising stars. Stalwarts like Jamie Lee Curtis and Woody Harrelson add a veteran touch, while up-and-comers like Emma Mackey and Ayo Edibiri represent the next generation of Hollywood icons. Regardless of their status, every main actor in Ella McCay has an impressive resume.
Julie Kavner – The Simpsons Movie (2007)
Before he was a film director, James L. Brooks got his start in TV. Brooks co-created The Simpsons, and the sitcom came to the big screen in 2007. Julie Kavner appears in Ella McCay as Ella’s secretary and the film’s narrator, and she’s best known for bringing her role of Marge Simpson to the big screen in The Simpsons Movie.
Though TV show movies are often hit-or-miss, The Simpsons movie far exceeded expectations and was one of the highlights of the franchise. It captured the same humor and energy of the TV show, while making the story feel important as befitting a feature film. 20 years later, The Simpsons Movie 2 is set to premiere in 2027.
Albert Brooks – Broadcast News (1987)
Albert Brooks (no relation to James L. Brooks) is one of cinema’s unsung heroes, and he absolutely stole the show in 1987’s Broadcast News. The film concerns a hotshot young producer who tangles her personal and professional lives in the newsroom. Albert Brooks appears as self-conscious reporter, Aaron, who vies for the attention of Jane (Holly Hunter).
The brilliance of the film is that it perfectly captures the shifting trends in news, while delivering a memorable romantic comedy. It’s a defining piece of ’80s cinema because it’s grounded in its era. James L. Brooks wrote and directed <em>Broadcast News</em>, so it’s no surprise he brought Albert Brooks back for Ella McCay to play Bill, the state Governor.
Ayo Edibiri – Bottoms (2023)
When she’s not lighting it up on TV shows like The Bear, Ayo Edibiri has already amassed an impressive filmography in movies like Bottoms. In the satirical comedy, two high school outcasts start a self-defense club as a ruse to meet girls, but things quickly go awry. Edibiri plays Josie, the meeker of the two main characters.
Much in the same way that Brooks’ films represent the comedy of his era, Bottoms is indicative of changes in the genre in the 2020s. It is cleverly exaggerated and strange, and pokes fun at contemporary culture without being too mean-spirited. In Ella McCay, Edibiri plays a much more down-to-earth role as Susan, the ex-girlfriend of the title character’s brother.
Spike Fearn – Alien: Romulus (2024)
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