Everything to Know About George Clooney and Adam Sandler’s New Movie ‘Jay Kelly’

George Clooney and Adam Sandler take an epic road trip through Europe in their upcoming movie, Jay Kelly.

Fresh off the huge success of his long-awaited sequel Happy Gilmore 2 in July 2025, Sandler’s next project is a complete change in pace. The bittersweet comedy-drama Jay Kelly, which comes from Netflix and acclaimed filmmaker Noah Baumbach, premieres in competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in August 2025, which means it could be a serious award season contender in 2026.

Clooney, a two-time Oscar winner, has spoken to Vanity Fair about how playing an aging movie star in Jay Kelly symbolized a shift in his own career.

“When you’re an actor in my position, at my age, finding roles like this aren’t all that common,” he acknowledges. “If you can’t make peace with aging, then you’ve got to get out of the business and just disappear. I’m now the guy that, when I go running after a bad guy, it’s funny — it’s not suspenseful. That’s okay. I embrace all of that.”

Keep scrolling for everything you need to know about Jay Kelly.

What Is ‘Jay Kelly’ About?

Baumbach is keeping plot details about Jay Kelly largely secretive prior to its Venice debut, though the film definitely revolves around aging actor Jay taking a road trip through Europe with his manager (Sandler).

Netflix’s official synopsis reads, “The new film from Academy Award nominee Noah Baumbach follows famous movie actor Jay Kelly (George Clooney) and his devoted manager Ron (Adam Sandler) as they embark on a whirlwind and unexpectedly profound journey through Europe. Along the way, both men are forced to confront the choices they’ve made, the relationships with their loved ones, and the legacies they’ll leave behind.”

Who Is in the Cast of ‘Jay Kelly’?

Clooney has the title role as a fading movie star, while Sandler plays Jay Kelly’s longtime manager, Ron. Speaking to Vanity Fair, Clooney revealed that he encouraged the Jay Kelly cast not to treat Sandler like the characters in his “goofy” movies.

“This film, more than any film Adam has done, shows what a beautiful, heartfelt, soulful actor he is — I kept telling the cast, ‘Don’t call him Sand Man. Don’t talk to him like he’s just some goofy comedian. He’s actually a really beautiful, wonderful actor,’” Clooney insists.

The Ocean’s Eleven actor goes on, “Because of what [Adam’s] paycheck is, which is doing big goofy comedies, when he does these other, beautiful, Uncut Gems kinds of movies, it reminds people of that. He’s not just a good comedian.”

According to Netflix, Baumbach has assembled an impressive supporting cast, including Laura Dern (Star Wars) as Jay’s publicist, Billy Crudup (The Morning Show) as his old acting buddy and Riley Keough (The Terminal List) and Grace Edwards (Asteroid City) as his two daughters.