John Travolta reveals the real story behind the berets that sparked endless reactions at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. The icon became one of the most talked-about stars after stepping out in multiple berets across the weekend while promoting his directorial debut, “Propeller One-Way Night Coach.”
While social media roasted the unexpected fashion choice, Travolta says the eccentric look was completely intentional. In a new interview with CNN, the “Grease” legend explained that the hats were part of his tribute to classic filmmakers.
“‘The old school directors wore berets and the glasses. And I thought, that’s what I’m doing,’” Travolta told the outlet, adding he wanted to visually separate this chapter of his career from the decades he spent attending events as an actor. “‘I’ve been around for over 50 years doing movies, but I can’t tell, when I look back, the difference between the events,’” he explained.
Travolta said he deliberately approached Cannes almost like a performance role. “‘And I said, “I’m a director this time. You’re an actor, play the part of a director. Looks like an old school director,’” he shared.
© Getty ImagesThe actor didn’t specifically reveal which cinema icons inspired him, but many fans immediately compared the look to legendary director Francis Ford Coppola, who has famously worn berets for years. Others pointed to acclaimed Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman.
Others compared him to everyone from Jack Harlow to Joe Pantoliano, with one user writing, “It must be so nice to have so much money you can dress like a surrealist painter on the Left Bank of Paris in the 1930s.” Another viral post questioned, “Why does bro look like he’s about to negotiate his sovereign right to enrich uranium,” while someone else asked, “What’s he wearing that stupid beret for?”
© Mondadori Portfolio via Getty ImTravolta’s beret era actually began before he even landed in France, when he shared an Instagram video piloting his private plane to Cannes alongside his daughter, Ella Bleu Travolta. “Big day, big night in Cannes. Stay tuned!” he captioned the post.
© GettyOver the next two days, Travolta rotated through several versions of the statement accessory, including a navy beret during travel, a beige beret on the red carpet, and finally a black beret paired with dark spectacles during a photocall for his new film.
“‘I’m gonna do an homage to being a director,’” he said. “‘So I’m gonna play the part of being a director and then when I look back, I’ll know, “Oh, that was ‘Propeller One-Way Night Coach,’ that was Cannes, that was when I won the Palme d’Or.” And I will have vividness of it.’”
© WireImageThe actor also drew attention for his noticeably slimmer appearance and freshly darkened beard, which might also be part of his upcoming role.
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