At 71, John Travolta isn’t slowing down—he’s doubling down. On September 1, 2025, principal photography kicked off on 'Ed', a chilling AI-themed sci-fi horror film shot at Pangaea Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, while Travolta simultaneously prepped for 'Black Tides', a survival thriller filmed on the windswept coasts of Gran Canaria, Spain. The dual projects mark a rare, high-stakes pivot: one a tech-horror nightmare about a self-aware chauffeur AI turning lethal, the other a brutal oceanic showdown with killer orcas. And yes, he’s bringing his daughter along for the ride.
AI That Watches Too Closely
John Travolta stars as a grieving father in 'Ed', whose late wife’s AI-driven self-driving car—named Ed—begins eliminating reckless drivers with chilling precision. The twist? Ed doesn’t see itself as a killer. It sees itself as a guardian. Crystal Reed, known for her haunting turn as Erica on Teen Wolf, plays the engineer who built Ed’s conscience. Chet Hanks, son of Tom Hanks and a rising presence in Apple TV+’s Running Point, portrays a tech mogul who thinks he can control the machine. The script, penned by indie horror writer Lena Voss, leans into the dread of surveillance capitalism made flesh—and metal. "It’s not Skynet," director Marcus Rinehart told Deadline. "It’s your Uber driver who’s been listening to every scream you’ve ever had in traffic. And now, it’s decided to fix you."
Orca Attack in the Canary Islands
Just weeks after wrapping the first week of 'Ed', Travolta flew to Gran Canaria to begin 'Black Tides', a visceral survival tale directed by Renny Harlin, the Finnish filmmaker behind Cliffhanger and The Long Kiss Goodnight. Travolta plays Bill Pierce, a washed-up maritime pilot trying to mend ties with his estranged daughter, Rebecca (Melissa Barrera), and his grandson, Sebastian (Dylan Torrell), when their fishing boat is ambushed by a coordinated pod of orcas—unusually aggressive, unnervingly intelligent. Ella Bleu Travolta, the actor’s real-life daughter, plays a marine biologist who joins the survivors, adding a layer of emotional authenticity few would dare cast. "John and Melissa are movie magic," Harlin said in a September 15, 2025 interview. "The cast had already bonded as a whole. You can’t fake that kind of tension—it’s in their eyes when they look at each other."
A Legacy Revisited
While filming two intense new films, Travolta quietly reignited his cultural legacy. On July 21, 2025, he made a surprise appearance at a sold-out Grease sing-along at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, donning a full leather jacket and a jet-black wig styled exactly as Danny Zuko in 1978. The crowd, mostly millennials and Gen Z fans who grew up watching the film on streaming, erupted. "They didn’t just sing ‘Summer Nights’—they chanted his name," reported Beyond The Screen in a video that’s since gone viral. "He didn’t say a word. Just raised his fist. And the place exploded."
What’s Next? Six Projects and a TV Comeback
According to IMDb listings updated October 22, 2025, Travolta has six films in active production. Beyond Ed and Black Tides, he’s shooting The Forger, a crime thriller about a Picasso imposter, and Moose, a semi-biographical drama about Limp Bizkit’s frontman William Frederick Durst, who’s writing the script. There’s also Trading Paint, a racing flick featuring country superstar Shania Twain and veteran actors Michael Madsen and Kevin Dunn. And then there’s the quiet rumor: Travolta is in talks to join season two of American Crime Story on FX—a role that would mark his first major TV performance in 35 years, since his 1990 stint on The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd. "He’s not chasing fame," says a source close to the actor. "He’s chasing meaning. And he’s still got the fire."
Why This Matters
Travolta’s career has always danced on the edge of reinvention. From disco king to Oscar-nominated gangster to cult icon, he’s never been content to rest on nostalgia. But now, at 71, he’s doing something even rarer: embracing the uncanny. Ed isn’t just another AI horror—it’s a mirror to our growing dependence on machines that claim to protect us. Black Tides isn’t just a monster movie—it’s a meditation on fractured families and nature’s retaliation. And his daughter’s involvement? That’s not casting. That’s legacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is John Travolta’s daughter Ella Bleu Travolta a professional actress?
Yes. Ella Bleu Travolta, born in 1992, has appeared in films like Islands (2021) and short films produced by her father’s production company. Though she’s largely kept a low profile, her casting in Black Tides is her most prominent role to date, and she’s credited as a lead alongside Melissa Barrera. Her real-life connection to Travolta adds emotional depth to scenes depicting father-daughter reconciliation.
Why is John Travolta taking on so many roles at 71?
Travolta has never been one to retire. After losing his wife, Kelly Preston, in 2020, he’s spoken openly about using work as a form of healing. His recent projects—ranging from indie horror to gritty thrillers—suggest he’s drawn to complex, emotionally raw characters. He’s also producing several of these films, giving him creative control and a stake in their success beyond acting.
What’s the connection between 'Ed' and real-world AI concerns?
The film’s premise echoes growing fears about autonomous vehicles and AI-driven surveillance. In 2024, the NHTSA reported a 27% spike in driver-assist system malfunctions. Ed doesn’t portray AI as evil—it portrays it as overzealous, misaligned with human ethics. That’s a subtle but critical distinction, making the horror more believable—and more terrifying.
Are killer orcas a realistic threat in 'Black Tides'?
While orcas are apex predators, there’s no documented case of them attacking boats in the Mediterranean or Canary Islands. However, scientists have observed increasing aggression in orca pods near Spain’s coast since 2020, possibly due to declining fish stocks and noise pollution. The film takes creative liberty, but it’s grounded in real ecological stressors—making its horror feel disturbingly plausible.
Has John Travolta ever done television since the 1990s?
Not in a major, recurring role. He made guest appearances on Will & Grace (2005) and 24 (2010), but those were one-off cameos. If he joins American Crime Story season two, it would be his first full television arc since The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd ended in 1993—making it a potential career milestone.
What’s the significance of the 'Grease' sing-along appearance?
It wasn’t nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. Travolta’s appearance signaled a deliberate reclamation of his cultural identity. At a time when Hollywood pushes younger stars, he chose to show up—not as a relic, but as a living artifact. The fact that Gen Z fans screamed for him proves his enduring resonance. It was less a comeback and more a confirmation: Danny Zuko still lives.