Emma Mackey and Jamie Lee Curtis Scream It Out in James L. Brooks’ Ella McCay Trailer

Emma Mackey is taking on the system in filmmaker James L. Brooks’ new movie!

On Monday, Aug. 4, 20th Century Studios released the trailer for Ella McCay, a dramedy from three-time Academy Award winner Brooks, 85, which follows the Sex Education star, 29, as a young woman who becomes a state governor after her boss (Albert Brooks) is promoted to a federal-level cabinet position.

A newly released trailer shows Ella becoming governor and straddling new responsibilities with drama involving her family, including her estranged father (Woody Harrelson), brother (Spike Fearn) and aunt (Jamie Lee Curtis). The “comedy about the people you love and how to survive them,” per a synopsis from 20th Century Studios, also features Jack Lowden, Rebecca Hall, Ayo Edebiri, Kumail Nanjiani and Julie Kavner.

“You are truly blessed if you have never experienced other people’s normal, happy families as a small stab in the heart,” quips Kavner in the trailer, which starts with her introducing herself as the story’s narrator.

“You can use a scream,” Curtis’ character tells Mackey, encouraging her to let out her feelings. “No, I might not be able to stop,” responds her niece. But later in the trailer, they surprise each other by screaming it out together.

Ella McCay is notably Brooks’ first movie as a director since 2010’s How Do You Know. The Hollywood legend won three Oscars in 1984 for Terms of Endearment – Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. The film is also something of a return to the big screen for actor Albert Brooks (no relation), 78, whose previous acting credit is 2017’s I Love You, Daddy. James also directed Albert in Broadcast News.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

As James told The Hollywood Reporter in an April interview, the movie is set in 2008 and is “about how to not make government service and political office something any sane person would flee from.”

“In a movie like this, you’ve got to figure out what the heroism is, and chase that,” the director said at that time. “What is it really that makes you a fine person? Is it a character that’s worth supporting for an entire movie? That’s what you aim for.”

Ella McCay is in theaters on Dec. 12.