Yesterday in London, Noah Baumbach and the stars of Jay Kelly joined a festive Thanksgiving lunch hosted by our editor Charles Finch, with some of the city’s most exciting artists mingling over “Bull shots” and cheesecake.
On Sunday afternoon in London, our editor Charles Finch hosted a festive Thanksgiving Lunch to celebrate the release of Jay Kelly, which will be out on Netflix in the UK on December 5th, 2025. Among the guests were director Noah Baumbach, with stars George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Isla Fisher, and Billy Crudup, along with producer David Heyman.
Jay Kelly is the award-winning Baumbach’s latest project, with Clooney playing a soul-searching movie star and Sandler as his loyal, long-suffering manager. The film is moving and insightful about the trade-offs required to reach the top of the industry—one of my favourites from Netflix this year. It also includes genuinely emotional moments and standout performances from both leads. “It’s a wonderful film,” Charles said in his speech. “And you are incredible people who I admire.”
Joining Baumbach were other filmmakers, including Josie Rourke, Shannon Murphy, and rising star Akinola Davies Jr. of My Father’s Shadow. At one point, Davies Jr. was seen deep in conversation with Reinaldo Marcus Green (King Richard; One Love). Serpentine Galleries CEO Bettina Korek mingled with actors like Katherine Waterston, writers, and distinguished journalists including Christiane Amanpour, publisher Jonathan Newhouse, and Isla Fisher, who moved through the room with her trademark warmth and energy.
Over starters, Rourke and Crudup chatted over his play High Noon at the Harold Pinter Theatre. British actors Hugh Bonneville and Hannah Waddingham were spotted sharing turkey and apple crumble, and Caitriona Balfe spoke at length with both George and Adam.
Wilton’s—London’s historic institution dating back to 1742—set the scene perfectly. Known for its classic interiors, “Bull shot” cocktails, and exceptional seafood, the restaurant’s chef served a typical fish starter before a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner: complete with a marshmallow-pecan sweet potato casserole. Dessert was a soft cheesecake, a nod to a running joke in the film (we still can’t confirm whether Clooney actually had a slice, unlike his on-screen counterpart). In his speech, Charles also insisted everyone try Wilton’s legendary “Bull shot” which is a mix of vodka, beef consommé and Wilton’s own spice mix.
As the afternoon unfolded, guests settled into Wilton’s cosy booths, catching up and swapping stories about current projects. Photographer Jean Pigozzi captured some wonderfully candid moments, including shots of actor Cary Elwes and Shannon Murphy. Lorna Tucker and Seamus McGarvey attended ahead of Greta Gerwig’s Narnia adaptation and the forthcoming retelling of Tucker’s Bare. And in a characteristically kind gesture, Sandler made sure to say goodbye to every single guest before slipping out with Baumbach. We discussed his underrated animation holiday movie Eight Crazy Nights together. “That one—it’s special when somebody tells me how much they enjoy it. It’s personal for me,” he replied.
For a few hours on Sunday, that elegant London dining room held a family-style gathering in honour of a film anchored by two remarkable performances and guided by one of the most compelling filmmakers working today.
Jay Kelly will be coming to Netflix in the UK on December 5th.
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