‘Jay Kelly’ Trailer: George Clooney and Adam Sandler Lead Noah Baumbach’s Poignant Tale of Memory and Regret

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Oct 2

Jay Kelly. George Clooney as Jay Kelly in Jay Kelly. Cr. Peter Mountain/Netflix © 2025.

Baumbach’s Venice premiere sets Clooney on a journey of self-discovery, with Sandler at his side, ahead of a Netflix awards-season release.

Netflix has unveiled the first full trailer for Noah Baumbach’s latest film, Jay Kelly, a star-studded and emotionally charged exploration of fame, memory, and the search for meaning. Following its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, the film is poised to be one of the streamer’s biggest awards contenders of the season. It opens in select theaters on November 14 before streaming on Netflix globally on December 5.

The trailer introduces George Clooney as the titular Jay Kelly, a world-famous actor whose confidence begins to unravel as he questions the life he has built. Haunted by memories of past successes and regrets, Jay sets out on a journey to France to reconnect with his daughter, only to confront the blurry lines between who he is and the roles he has played. At his side is Ron, his longtime manager, portrayed with warmth and humor by Adam Sandler, who provides both levity and loyalty as Jay spirals toward self-reflection.

Laura Dern appears as Kelly’s sharp-witted publicist, tasked with managing his unraveling image as much as his fragile psyche. A sprawling ensemble rounds out the cast, including Billy Crudup, Riley Keough, Greta Gerwig, Patrick Wilson, Eve Hewson, Jim Broadbent, Stacy Keach, Alba Rohrwacher, Emily Mortimer, and more. Together, they shape Baumbach’s sprawling yet intimate portrait of a man at the crossroads of celebrity and identity.

The tone of the trailer is both witty and wistful. Clooney’s Jay remarks, “Lately I feel like my life doesn’t really feel real. Suddenly, I’m remembering things.” To which Sandler’s Ron quips, “Memory?” It’s the kind of layered Baumbach dialogue that blends humor and melancholy, capturing the tension between public image and private reckoning.

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Co-written by Baumbach and Emily Mortimer, and produced by Baumbach, David Heyman, and Amy Pascal, Jay Kellycombines epic scope with personal intimacy. While Venice audiences praised its blend of poignancy and humor, Netflix is positioning the film for a major awards push, with Clooney and Sandler’s unexpected pairing already drawing significant attention.

With its mix of movie-star gravitas, meta-Hollywood reflection, and deeply human vulnerability, Jay Kelly looks set to spark conversations about legacy, regret, and the illusions of fame.