Laura Dern steps into a new phase with “Jay Kelly” and a packed slate in recent days

Laura Dern is closing out the year in the spotlight once again. In recent days, the Oscar-winning actor has been front and center promoting “Jay Kelly,” a star-studded drama that is now streaming and drawing attention for its trio of marquee leads. The project reunites Dern with longtime collaborator Noah Baumbach while pairing her on screen with George Clooney and Adam Sandler—an ensemble dynamic that has driven fresh interest in the film and in Dern’s chameleonic career.

Laura Dern’s latest: why “Jay Kelly” matters

“Jay Kelly” marks a timely return to grounded, adult drama for Dern. The film leans into themes she’s navigated for decades—regret, reinvention, and the hard math of ambition—while giving her space to play against two actors best known for very different screen personas. Early reactions highlight the push-and-pull among the leads: a movie star reckoning with choices, a confidante who refuses easy answers, and an industry that magnifies every misstep. Dern’s turn threads empathy with cool-eyed resolve, the precise gear she’s honed from “Enlightened” to “Marriage Story.”

Just as notable is the behind-the-camera reunion. Dern and Baumbach’s creative shorthand—visible in the crackle of “Marriage Story”—adds a lived-in rhythm to “Jay Kelly.” It’s the kind of project that reminds audiences why Dern thrives in dialogue-rich dramas: she listens as intently as she speaks, letting silence do as much work as the lines.

Laura Dern in the news: appearances, interviews, and momentum

In the past few days, Dern has been active across Q&As and cast conversations tied to the film’s release, reflecting on collaboration, set chemistry, and the craft of balancing big emotion with restraint. The tour doubles as a wider reset for her public calendar. After a year of varied work—from fashion-house appearances to industry panels—she’s shifting attention squarely back to screen roles, with a schedule that keeps her visible through the winter.

What’s next for Laura Dern: projects to watch

• “Palm Royale” Season 2: Dern is back in the satirical period world that blends glitter with sharp elbows. Recent chatter around the new season suggests a juicier arc for her character, with more scenes opposite Kristen Wiig and an expanded ensemble.

• “Is This Thing On?”: A forthcoming feature that has circulated in trade chatter for its creative team and unusual production footprint. Dern’s participation places her at the center of another filmmaker-driven drama audiences will be tracking.

• Producing through Jaywalker Pictures: Beyond acting, Dern continues to build out her producer slate, leveraging her knack for character-first storytelling into projects across film, television, and audio. Expect more announcements as year-end development slates lock in.

The Laura Dern effect: why audiences still lean in

For four decades, Laura Dern has toggled between art-house daring and pop-culture phenomenon. The connective tissue is risk: she rarely repeats an energy, even when returning to familiar collaborators. That willingness to pivot—Lynch’s dream logic, Spielberg’s adventure awe, Baumbach’s conversational knife-edge—keeps her unpredictable. In “Jay Kelly,” she channels that history into a performance that feels unforced and contemporary, a reminder that maturity on screen isn’t about quieting down but choosing better when to speak up.

In recent days: timeline at a glance

• Late week: “Jay Kelly” begins streaming, landing a splashy ensemble and putting Dern on the awards-season radar as campaigns heat up.

• Weekend into Monday: New interviews roll out, with Dern spotlighting her collaboration with Baumbach and the camaraderie with Clooney and Sandler.

• This week: Additional promotional stops and conversation clips circulate, teeing up continued visibility as the holiday viewing window opens.

Why it matters right now

This end-of-year window is crowded with big releases, but Laura Dern’s presence changes the calculus for discerning viewers: she’s a signal that a project will prize nuance over noise. With “Jay Kelly” now in circulation and a steady pipeline ahead, Dern’s current run underscores what has defined her career—intelligence, risk, and grace under a very bright light.