George Clooney Praises Adam Sandler After Working Together for First Time: He’s ‘Not Just a Good Comedian’

George Clooney and Adam Sandler are dear friends, on and off the screen.

After collaborating on their upcoming film Jay Kelly, Clooney and Sandler strengthened their friendship and deepened their mutual admiration for each other, the pair told Vanity Fair in an interview published Aug. 4. Though they’ve been friendly for years, working together onscreen for the first time was a turning point for their bond, Clooney said.

When Sandler learned the plot of Jay Kelly from director Noah Baumbach, “the sell was clear,” he said — some elements of the storyline, including his character’s affinity for Clooney’s, felt similar to his own life.

“My character loves George’s character so much, and I thought that would be fun to do and easy to do with George,” Sandler said. “And as a guy who’s an actor who’d live a similar life to Jay Kelly, it’s a crazy depiction — how accurate a lot of it is.”

As Sandler recalled, the pair grew closer over the course of making the film: “He invited my family everywhere, every place in Italy and England. Our trailers were next to each other. His friends and my friends all hung out, shot hoops, threw the baseball around, talked about other movies we like, other comedians that have made us laugh, his upbringing, my upbringing.”

In the comedy-drama film, a famous actor Jay Kelly (Clooney) and his friend and manager Ron (Sandler) “embark on a whirlwind and unexpectedly profound journey,” which calls into question their choices, relationships and legacies, per the movie’s synopsis.

Long known for his lighthearted roles and prowess as a comedian, Sandler said Jay Kelly was “heavy” at times. But, Clooney emphasized, Sandler has range beyond his comedic projects and roles — and his skill is plain to see in Jay Kelly.

“This film — more than any film Adam has done — shows what a beautiful, heartfelt, soulful actor he is,” Clooney said. “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.'”

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He continued. “Because of what his 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.”

Jay Kelly will release in select theaters November 14 and on Netflix December 5.