George Clooney explores passage of time in Netflix film 'Jay Kelly'

George Clooney stars as an aging actor confronting his past in Netflix’s upcoming film Jay Kelly, but off-screen, the 64-year-old Hollywood icon says he’s far more interested in what lies ahead.

“I’m not really ready to look backwards and sort of rest on it,” Clooney told AFP on Thursday at the film’s premiere during the American Film Institute (AFI) festival in Los Angeles. “I sort of enjoy looking forward and seeing what’s coming next.”

In Jay Kelly, directed by Noah Baumbach, Clooney plays a once-famous actor facing an emotional reckoning after three decades in the spotlight. The story follows his character’s desperate attempt to repair his strained relationship with his daughters. To do so, he embarks on a road trip across Europe, dragging along his weary manager, played by Adam Sandler, and his press agent, portrayed by Laura Dern.

As the journey unfolds, Kelly reflects on his loneliness, regrets, and the cost of fame — themes that echo the anxieties of many who’ve lived under the public eye for years. Yet Clooney insists that, unlike his character, he feels content and surrounded by meaningful connections. “I am lucky enough to not be as unhappy as he is and to have really good friends and people that I like,” he said. “I don’t feel as isolated as he is.”

Baumbach’s film, which balances introspection with sharp humor, marks Clooney’s first collaboration with the acclaimed director known for Marriage Story and White Noise. The film’s focus on self-examination and creative legacy resonates deeply with its cast — particularly Sandler, who, at 59, admits he relates to its reflections on aging.

“It’s interesting watching an actor like me get older on camera,” Sandler said. “But I don’t look back at work I wish I would have done. I just think, time is ticking — let’s make sure we get it all in there, both in movies and outside of them, with family and everything else.”

Sandler added that his motivation now is to choose projects that “bring joy to people.”

Jay Kelly premieres in theaters next month before arriving on Netflix on December 5. The AFI Fest, which showcases major fall releases and Oscar hopefuls, runs through Sunday in Hollywood.