John Travolta makes directorial debut with aviation tale at Cannes Premiere

By Pickle  April 13, 2026

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John Travolta, the Pulp Fiction star and aviation enthusiast, returns to the Cannes Film Festival with his directorial debut Propeller One-Way Night Coach, set for world premiere in the Cannes Premiere section.

The Apple Original Films production, adapted from Travolta’s 1997 children’s book, screens at the Debussy Theatre in the Palais des Festivals, with the 72-year-old actor present. It marks his latest Cannes milestone after Pulp Fiction (1994) and She’s So Lovely (1997) competed for the Palme d’Or, and Primary Colors (1998) played out of competition.

Travolta, a Palme d’Or nominee, two-time Oscar contender, three-time Golden Globe and Emmy winner, drew from childhood memories near New York’s LaGuardia Airport. A licensed pilot since age 22 with over 9,000 flight hours—certified on Boeing 707s, 737s, 747s, Bombardier Global Express and the first private Airbus A380 flyer—he penned the book for his son nearly 30 years ago.

The nostalgic aviation adventure follows young enthusiast Jeff (Clark Shotwell) and his mother (Kelly Eviston-Quinnett) on a one-way cross-country flight to Hollywood. What starts as routine turns magical with airline meals, flight attendants (Travolta’s daughter Ella Bleu Travolta and Olga Hoffmann), quirky passengers, stopovers and first-class thrills, shaping the boy’s future.

Produced by JTP Films Inc and Kids at Play, Travolta leads with Jason Berger and Amy Laslett. It hits Apple TV+ globally on May 29 post-premiere.

Travolta’s 70+ film career spans Saturday Night Fever, Grease, Blow Out and Hairspray. He flew planes in Look Who’s Talking (1989) and Broken Arrow (1996), owning multiple aircraft.

The film joins a Cannes Premiere slate including Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Kokurojo amid Japan’s Country of Honour focus.