John Travolta dedicates new film to late wife Kelly, son Jett: 'Life tested me'
Synopsis
John Travolta's new film isn't a comeback — it's a love letter. Dedicating 'Propeller One-Way Night Coach' to his late wife Kelly Preston and son Jett, the 72-year-old actor told La Repubblica that 'life has certainly tested me' but he refuses to 'die in that darkness'. His daughter Ella Bleu co-stars.
Key Takeaways
John Travolta , 72, has dedicated his new film 'Propeller One-Way Night Coach' to late wife Kelly Preston , son Jett , his parents and siblings.
The semi-autobiographical film is based on Travolta's 1997 children's book and views 1962 America through an 8-year-old's eyes.
His daughter Ella Bleu Travolta , 26, co-stars in the family drama.
Travolta lost son Jett in 2009 at age 16 and wife Kelly Preston in 2020 at age 57.
The actor received a surprise honorary Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in May.
Hollywood actor John Travolta, 72, has opened up about navigating profound personal loss, dedicating his new film 'Propeller One-Way Night Coach' to his late wife Kelly Preston, son Jett Travolta, his parents and siblings. In an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica, the actor said his instinct is to seek light even in the darkest moments, framing the semi-autobiographical project as a tribute to family.
A film born from family
The film, inspired by Travolta's 1997 children's book of the same name, recreates his own first flight as a child and views 1962 America through the eyes of an 8-year-old named Jeff. It co-stars his 26-year-old daughter Ella Bleu Travolta, anchoring the project firmly within the family.
“I dedicated the film to Kelly, to my son Jett, to my brothers and sisters, to my mother and my father, because they are the model from which this film was born,” Travolta told La Repubblica.
The losses that shaped him
Travolta lost his son Jett in 2009 at age 16, after a seizure caused a fall, according to a report in 'People' magazine. Eleven years later, in 2020, his wife Kelly Preston died at 57, two years after a breast cancer diagnosis.
Asked how he held on to optimism, the actor said, “life has certainly tested me,” adding that his “nature is to look for the positive, even in the face of the worst.” He continued, “I'm not made to remain absorbed in the darkness. I can look at the darkness, but I don't choose to die in that darkness.”
A child's lens on a heavy era
Travolta said the film does not shy away from difficult historical themes, including references to Nazi concentration camps, but stays grounded in a child's perspective. “I wanted this sincerity. A child's hope and resilience are unique, we adults have forgotten what that means. As a child, I always looked at the glass half full; I thought life could be better,” he said.
Cannes return and an honorary Palme d'Or
The actor presented the film at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025, where he was honoured with a surprise honorary Palme d'Or. The moment prompted him to revisit his first Cannes appearance decades ago with 'Pulp Fiction', a film that resurrected his career in the 1990s.
With Ella Bleu sharing the screen and the memory of Kelly and Jett at its emotional core, 'Propeller One-Way Night Coach' marks one of Travolta's most personal projects in years — a quiet pivot from action and dance roles to a story about hope viewed through a child's eyes.
Point of View
On screen and off, is its own kind of performance.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Propeller One-Way Night Coach' about?
It is a semi-autobiographical family film directed by and starring John Travolta, based on his 1997 children's book of the same name. Set in 1962 America, the story follows an 8-year-old named Jeff and is inspired by Travolta's own first flight as a child.
Who has John Travolta dedicated the film to?
Travolta has dedicated the film to his late wife Kelly Preston, his late son Jett Travolta, his parents and his siblings. He told La Repubblica they are 'the model from which this film was born'.
Who co-stars with John Travolta in the film?
His 26-year-old daughter Ella Bleu Travolta co-stars in the film, making it a deeply personal family project.
What honour did Travolta receive at Cannes?
Travolta received a surprise honorary Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in May, where he presented 'Propeller One-Way Night Coach'. He also revisited memories of his earlier Cannes appearance for 'Pulp Fiction'.
How did John Travolta lose his wife and son?
His son Jett died in 2009 at age 16 after a seizure caused a fall, according to People magazine. His wife Kelly Preston died in 2020 at age 57, two years after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
