Entertainment

John Travolta unsure he will direct again after Cannes debut

By Hanna Rantala Reuters

Updated May 20, 2026 1:12 AM

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CANNES, France - John Travolta, fresh from his directorial debut at the Cannes Film Festival last week, told Reuters that he cannot imagine stepping behind the camera again unless he felt a deep passion for its subject matter.

"When people say, 'Would you direct again?' - I have to be passionate because it's all-consuming, so you have to love it that much," said the screen legend, admitting that making "Propeller One-Way Night Coach" was at times overwhelming.

However, because of its deeply personal nature - about a young aviation fan who takes a fateful flight to Los Angeles in the golden age of flying in the 1950s and 1960s - he could handle it, he said.

"It was me being overwhelmed with the things I love and my family and my friends," Travolta, an experienced pilot, said at the festival.

Travolta cast several of his relatives, including his daughter, Ella Bleu Travolta, who said watching her experienced family members work on set "felt like a master class."

Travolta, produced, financed, directed, narrated and wrote the film based on a book he published some three decades ago.

The star of hits such as "Pulp Fiction" and "Grease" was surprised with an honorary Palme d'Or prize on Friday ahead of the premiere, becoming visibly emotional as he accepted the award that he said was more important to him than an Oscar.

"Propeller," which was shown outside the competition section, will be released on Apple TV on May 29.

Critics praised the film with an hour-long run time as endearing if a bit odd, with The Guardian's critic calling it "a rather charmingly quirky and distinctively peculiar novella-sized bedtime story."

(Reporting by Hanna Rantala and Miranda MurrayEditing by Nick Zieminski)

Director John Travolta poses during a photocall for the film "Propeller One-Way Night Coach" (Vol de Nuit pour Los Angeles) presented as part of Cannes Premiere at the 79th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 16, 2026. REUTERS/Manon Cruz — Director John Travolta poses during a photocall for the film "Propeller One-Way Night Coach" (Vol de Nuit pour Los Angeles) presented as part of Cannes Premiere at the 79th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 16, 2026. REUTERS/Manon Cruz Manon Cruz Reuters

Director John Travolta poses during a photocall for the film "Propeller One-Way Night Coach" (Vol de Nuit pour Los Angeles) presented as part of Cannes Premiere at the 79th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 16, 2026. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes — Director John Travolta poses during a photocall for the film "Propeller One-Way Night Coach" (Vol de Nuit pour Los Angeles) presented as part of Cannes Premiere at the 79th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 16, 2026. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes Gonzalo Fuentes Reuters

Director John Travolta and cast members Kelly B. Eviston, Olga Hoffmann, Ella Bleu Travolta, Edouard Philipponnat and Clark Shotwell pose during a photocall for the film "Propeller One-Way Night Coach" (Vol de Nuit pour Los Angeles) presented as part of Cannes Premiere at the 79th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 16, 2026. REUTERS/Manon Cruz — Director John Travolta and cast members Kelly B. Eviston, Olga Hoffmann, Ella Bleu Travolta, Edouard Philipponnat and Clark Shotwell pose during a photocall for the film "Propeller One-Way Night Coach" (Vol de Nuit pour Los Angeles) presented as part of Cannes Premiere at the 79th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 16, 2026. REUTERS/Manon Cruz Manon Cruz Reuters

Director John Travolta and his daughter, a cast member Ella Bleu Travolta pose during a photocall for the film "Propeller One-Way Night Coach" (Vol de Nuit pour Los Angeles) presented as part of Cannes Premiere at the 79th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 16, 2026. REUTERS/Manon Cruz — Director John Travolta and his daughter, a cast member Ella Bleu Travolta pose during a photocall for the film "Propeller One-Way Night Coach" (Vol de Nuit pour Los Angeles) presented as part of Cannes Premiere at the 79th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 16, 2026. REUTERS/Manon Cruz Manon Cruz Reuters

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This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 12:09 AM.