For their latest cinematic endeavor, George Clooney set a special rule on the set of Jay Kelly: he wanted the cast to refrain from addressing Adam Sandler by his nickname "Sandman," aiming to elevate the comedian's status as an actor. During the AFI Fest premiere on Thursday, Clooney shared his rationale with The Hollywood Reporter, stating, "You are treated as you treat yourself. This was a new chapter for Adam, and I wanted to ensure he didn't undermine his remarkable talent. He has a tendency to deflect the praise, so I said, 'Dude, you're truly excellent in this film and a fantastic actor. Let's not make it a joke.'"
In the Netflix movie, Clooney portrays movie star Jay Kelly, who experiences a life-altering epiphany and embarks on a European journey with his dedicated manager Ron (played by Sandler). In response to Clooney's rule, Sandler joked, "I'll always be the Sandman; he can't stop me," but he appreciated the gesture nonetheless. "He's incredibly protective of me. He's a genuinely kind person," Sandler continued about Clooney. "We shot scenes together and connected deeply. He'd say, 'I just want people to recognize your talent,' and I'd reply, 'I'm fine, I just love working hard,' but he'd insist. He's so nice; he's looking out for me."
Noah Baumbach, along with co-writer Emily Mortimer, crafted the role specifically for Sandler. The actor described the film as less about Hollywood and more about "everyone who works hard and strives for excellence at their job, the sacrifices made on their family and themselves; the moments missed when you dive into something and get lost in it—you wonder what's more important, this or that? It's a struggle."
Greta Gerwig stars as Sandler's wife in the film, and along with "Greta's son and my daughter, we formed a charming family," Sandler said of their characters. "Greta was fantastic; she was so kind to my daughter Sadie—they shot many scenes together and grew close." Baumbach, who is married to Gerwig in real life, identified early on that she would play the role: "I basically asked Greta, 'Who do you see yourself playing?'" He joked that she had dibs on any part except Jay Kelly or Ron, adding, "She could play pretty much anyone else."
Jay Kelly will hit select theaters on November 14 and begin streaming on Netflix on December 5.
