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 aviation enthusiast Jeff and his mother embark on a one-way cross‑country flight to Hollywood,” according to a plot description shared by the festival. “What begins as a simple trip becomes a formative, nostalgic journey filled with memorable encounters, stopovers, and airline experiences that shape 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.
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 over the years.
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.
