Picture: Netflix
Noah Baumbach’s next Netflix project, titled Jay Kelly, is coming to both theaters and Netflix in late 2025 following its debut at the Venice Film Festival. The movie, which concluded production in 2024, is being headlined by George Clooney and Adam Sandler, and we finally have first-look photos of the film. Here’s everything we know about the new film so far:
Noah Baumbach is set to direct and co-write the new feature film, which he co-wrote with his wife, Greta Gerwig, last year’s box-office hit, Barbie. Baumbach has worked with Netflix on numerous projects, having directed and written the Oscar-winning Marriage Story, White Noise, and The Meyerowitz Story, the latter of which starred Adam Sandler. Baumbach, we hear, also had an animated feature in the works at Netflix called Escape From Beverly Hills that would’ve seen him team with Scarlett Johansson again after Marriage Story. Sadly, however, the project was recently announced to be scrapped.
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 27: Noah Baumbach and Adam Sandler attend the 2017 IFP Gotham Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on November 27, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/FilmMagic)
Emily Mortimer is co-writing the script with Baumbach. Her writing credits include Doll & Em and The Pursuit of Love.
Baumbach, Amy Pascal, and David Heyman are producing for Heyday Films and NBGG Pictures.
What’s the Plot of Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly?
Until recently, the film’s plot details remained tightly wrapped, but it is described as a “funny and emotional coming-of-age film about adults.” Another small synopsis read, “Everyone knows Jay Kelly, but he doesn’t know himself.”
Netflix has since provided a bigger synopsis reading, “Jay Kelly 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.”
The film has a runtime of 2 hours and 12 minutes, and among the tags Netflix has assigned to the film are “Witty, Heartfelt, Comedy Drama, Midlife Crisis, Hollywood, Emotional, and Showbiz”
Who is cast in Netflix’s Jay Kelly?
Pictures: Getty Images
When the project was first announced, stars George Clooney and Adam Sandler were tapped to lead. Clooney recently directed The Boys in the Boat and starred in Ticket to Paradise. Adam Sandler’s recent credits include Uncut Gems, Hustle, Murder Mystery 2, Spaceman, and You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah for Netflix. The actor has also produced a stand-up special for Netflix, with another in the works. They’ll play Jay Kelly and Ron (Kelly’s manager), respectively.
Clooney is best known for movies such as the Oceans franchise, Michael Clayton, and The Ides of March. This is his second major collaboration with Netflix, following the Oscar-nominated 2020 movie The Midnight Sky. He was also featured in the 2015 Bill Murray Christmas special, A Very Murray Christmas.
This is the first on-screen collaboration between Clooney and Sandler.
In March 2024, Netflix confirmed three more cast members for the movie:
- Laura Dern (Marriage Story, Big Little Lies)
- Billy Crudup (The Morning Show, Almost Famous)
- Riley Keough (Daisy Jones & The Six)
Further cast members have also been revealed.
- Patrick Wilson (The Conjuring) as Frank Hewitt.
- Isla Fisher (Confessions of a Shopaholic) as Pamela Palmer.
- Emily Mortimer (Mary Poppins Returns).
- Ruby Stokes (Una).
- Eve Hewson (Robin Hood).
- Billy Crudup (Almost Famous).
- Jim Broadbent (Moulin Rouge) as Jimbo.
- Greta Gerwig (Barbie).
- Stacy Keach (Nebraska).
- Louis Partridge (Enola Holmes 2).
- Jamie Demetriou (Fleabag).
- Kyle Soller (Anna Karenina).
- Josh Hamilton (Eighth Grade).
- Alba Rohrwacher (Hungry Hearts).
- Charlie Rowe (Rocketman).
- Lars Eidinger (Clouds of Sils Maria).
- Lucas Aurelio (Bridgerton).
- Thaddea Graham (Us).
- Emily Piggford (The Sounds) as Captain Jenny.
- Patsy Ferran (Living).
- Nigel Whitmey (Black Earth Rising).
- Hannah Onslow (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny).
- Grace Edwards (Asteroid City).
- Nasser Memarzia (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny).
- Gianni Calchetti (Wonka).
- Max Beken (Conjuring the Genie) as Jason McIntyre
- Doug Cockle (The Witcher 3) as Nathan
- and more.
First Look at Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly film
Picture: Billy Crudup (left) and George Clooney (right) in Jay Kelly – Netflix
Picture: George Clooney (left) and Riley Keogh (right) in Jay Kelly – Netflix
Picture: George Clooney in Jay Kelly – Netflix
Picture: Greta Gerwig (left) and Adam Sandler (right) in Jay Kelly – Netflix
Picture: Laura Dern (left), George Clooney (centre) and Adam Sandler (right) in Jay Kelly – Netflix
Picture: George Clooney (left) and Adam Sandler (right) in Jay Kelly – Netflix
Picture: George Clooney in Jay Kelly – Netflix
Where did Jay Kelly film? How long was it in production for?
Filming reportedly began in early Spring 2024 and, after several weeks of filming, ended by late Spring 2024.
Locations used in filming were:
- New York City, New York, USA.
- London, England.
- Milan, Italy.
- Caorso, Italy.
EXCLUSIVE: George Clooney And Adam Sandler Run Through A Field As They Film Their New Movie In Italy. – Picture by: / SplashNews.com
What’s the Netflix release date for Jay Kelly?
Jay Kelly will make its grand debut at the Venice Film Festival (Venezia 82 Competition).
As mentioned, Jay Kelly will be released in select theaters for two weeks, beginning November 14th, and will be available globally on Netflix on December 5th, 2025.
Are you looking forward to the new movie coming soon to Netflix? Let us know in the comments down below.
