George Clooney has had to step back from the Venice Film Festival after falling ill while promoting his latest film, Jay Kelly.
According to Entertainment Weekly, Clooney came down with a sinus infection and, on doctor’s orders, was told to scale back his activities. His publicist, Simon Halls, confirmed the news, saying, “George has been diagnosed with a sinus infection and is under doctor’s orders to cut back on his activities today.”
Jay Kelly is still set to premiere at the festival on August 28, and Clooney is expected to join future promotional events with co-stars Adam Sandler and Laura Dern if he’s well enough.
The Hollywood Reporter noted that Clooney’s absence meant he also had to miss the film’s scheduled panel on Thursday. Their staff spotted him leaving the Hotel Excelsior around 4 p.m., boarding a boat to return home and rest. He also reportedly skipped a private dinner with the Jay Kelly team and Netflix executives.
Anticipation is running high for Jay Kelly, which follows the story of an actor wrestling with his identity as he embarks on a trip to Europe alongside his friend and manager.
In his official director’s statement, shared via THR, Noah Baumbach reflected on the deeper themes of the film: “Jay Kelly is about a man looking back at his life and reflecting on the choices, the sacrifices, the successes, the mistakes he’s made. When is it too late to change the course of our lives?”
He added, “Jay Kelly is an actor, and as such, the movie is about identity. How do we perform ourselves? Who are we as parents, children, friends, professionals? Are we good? Are we bad? What is the gap between who we’ve decided we are and who we might actually be? What makes a life? Jay Kelly is about what it means to be yourself.”
The Venice Film Festival continues through September 6. Jay Kelly will premiere in select theaters on November 14 before hitting Netflix on December 5.
