George Clooney Melts Down in the Explosive New Trailer for Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly

George Clooney is back in movie-star mode, but the vibe is more midlife audit than victory lap. Netflix just dropped a second trailer for Noah Baumbach's new one, and it definitely looks like a glossy European trip with a sneaky existential crisis tucked in the carry-on.

The setup

Clooney plays Jay Kelly, a wildly famous actor heading to Europe with his longtime manager Ron (Adam Sandler) as he prepares to accept a lifetime achievement award. What should be an easy toast turns into a whirlwind that forces both guys to grapple with the stuff nobody likes to address: the choices they made, the relationships they neglected, and the legacy they are actually leaving behind. Baumbach loves an emotional tightrope, and this has that written all over it.

• Who is who: George Clooney is Jay Kelly; Adam Sandler plays his devoted manager Ron; Laura Dern co-stars as part of Jay's management team; the film is written and directed by Oscar-nominated Noah Baumbach.
• Trailer: Netflix has released the second trailer.
• Release plan: In theaters November 14, then streaming on Netflix December 5.

Inside baseball from Venice

While the cast was promoting the film in Venice, Sandler was pretty open about stepping out of his usual comfort zone. He said this one is less about chasing punchlines and more about living in the emotional beats, with Baumbach still slipping in laughs where they actually matter. He has worked with Baumbach before and clearly loves how the filmmaker blends humor with pain without shortchanging either side.

"When you read a script like this you say, 'Holy shit, I can't believe I'm getting this gift.'"

Sandler also joked that playing a manager gave him a fresh appreciation for the people who keep stars upright when the ride gets bumpy. He shouted out the managers, agents, and publicists who stick around through the highs, the lows, and, yes, the occasional loud phone call.

Laura Dern, who plays another key member of Jay's team, echoed that. She said she modeled her character on the folks who basically helped raise her professionally. Her publicist, for example, was the person who taught her how to carry herself, set boundaries, and even navigate dating while in the spotlight. She has big respect for the reps who sit beside you while you answer the awkward questions.

The read on the trailer

If the new footage is any indication, expect a glossy travelogue that slowly turns the screws: awards-season glamour on the surface, complicated feelings underneath. Clooney doing introspective irony, Sandler doing grounded sincerity, Baumbach doing Baumbach. I am very here for that mix.