John Travolta’s directorial debut, Propeller One-Way Night Coach, will world premiere at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival in the Cannes Premiere Selection, organizers unveiled on Thursday. The Apple Original Films movie is an adaptation of a 1997 book written and illustrated by Travolta, inspired by the star’s childhood memories and lifelong passion for aviation.
The world’s largest film festival didn’t immediately detail the premiere date.
“Young airplane enthusiast Jeff and his mother set off on a one-way cross-country odyssey to Hollywood, which transforms a simple flight into the trip of a lifetime,” according to a plot description shared by the festival. “Between airline meals, charming flight attendants, unexpected stopovers, larger-than-life passengers, and a thrilling glimpse at first class, the journey unfolds in moments both magical and unexpected, charting the course for the boy’s future.”
The film stars newcomer Clark Shotwell as Jeff, Kelly Eviston‑Quinnett as his mother, as well as Travolta daughter Ella Bleu Travolta and Olga Hoffmann as flight attendants.
Produced by Travolta’s JTP Films and Kids at Play, the producers are Travolta for JTP and Jason Berger and Amy Laslett at Kids at Play. The Cannes world premiere at the Debussy Theatre in Travolta’s presence will take place ahead of the movie’s global launch on Apple TV on May 29.
A summary of the book, which the star put together for his son, reads: “When his actress mother decides to move to Hollywood, Jeff, an eight-year-old boy who dreams of flying in a plane, begins his journey with connecting flights, airline food, stopovers, and time spent in first class.”
Travolta has described planes and flying as a long-running passion. He used tp watch airplanes taking off from La Guardia Airport near his home and begain flying at age 15 before getting his first pilot’s license at 22, the Cannes festival said.
The star has brought three films to Cannes’ Croisette over the years, namely Pulp Fiction (1994) and She’s So Lovely (1997) in the competition program, and Primary Colors (1998) in an out-of-competition slot.
“A Palme d’Or, two-time Academy Award nominee and three-time Golden Globe and Emmy winner, John Travolta has established himself as an iconic figure in pop culture, thanks to cult classics such as Saturday Night Fever (1977), Grease (1978), Blow Out (1981) and Hairspray (2007),” Cannes said on Thursday. “Alongside an eclectic filmography of more than 70 films spanning half a century, the 72-year-old actor has a long-standing passion: aviation.”
The fest noted that the star is certified to fly Boeing 707s, 737s, and 747s, Bombardier’s Global Express and was the first private pilot to fly an Airbus A380. “With over 9,000 flight hours under his belt, the actor has also owned several aircraft for many years and even flew planes in two movies: Look Who’s Talking (1989) and Broken Arrow (1996),” the film festival highlighted N
The 79th Cannes Film Festival will open with Pierre Salvadori’s 1920s-set La Vénus électrique. The French director’s movie will formally kick off proceedings with a premiere at Cannes’ Grand Théâtre Lumière on May 12, following the opening ceremony hosted by actress Eye Haïdara.
