The Invention of Lying is a 2009 romantic fantasy comedy film written and directed by comedian Ricky Gervais and writer Matthew Robinson in their directorial debuts. The film stars Gervais as the first human with the ability to lie in a world where people can only tell the truth. The cast also includes Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Louis C.K., Jeffrey Tambor, Fionnula Flanagan, Rob Lowe, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Tina Fey. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 14, 2009, and was released in the United States on October 2, 2009, by Warner Bros.