Renowned actor George Clooney was unable to attend the press conference for his highly anticipated new Netflix movie, "Jay Kelly," which is set to premiere this week at the prestigious Venice Film Festival. The festival's moderator revealed that Clooney is suffering from a “bad sinus infection,” which prevented him from being present at the event.
During the press conference, the moderator mentioned that Clooney “should” attend the world premiere screening later that evening. However, the use of the conditional tense left uncertainty regarding his appearance. The moderator conveyed Clooney’s regret about missing the press conference, while co-star Adam Sandler humorously remarked that “even movie stars get sick.” Co-star Laura Dern also shared that Clooney was “devastated” about not being able to participate in the festivities.
It was revealed last night that Clooney, who had been seen arriving at the festival earlier this week, had to significantly reduce his press obligations due to his illness. In addition to missing the press conference, he also skipped a cast and crew dinner, much to the dismay of his colleagues.
Noah Baumbach’s new film, "Jay Kelly," stars Clooney as a famous movie actor accompanied by his devoted manager, Ron, played by Sandler. The narrative unfolds as the duo embarks on a whirlwind and unexpectedly profound journey through Europe. Throughout their travels, both characters are compelled to confront their life choices, relationships with loved ones, and the legacies they wish to leave behind.
The screenplay was penned by Noah Baumbach and Emily Mortimer, and boasts a talented ensemble cast that includes Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, and Riley Keough. Baumbach, who crafted the role specifically for Clooney, elaborated on the film’s thematic core, stating, “We discovered soon that if you make a movie about an actor, you’re making a movie about identity and performance and a search for self.” He further explained that actors continuously seek to understand themselves through the characters they portray, which adds depth to the film's narrative.
Sandler, who portrays Clooney’s loyal manager, expressed his long-standing appreciation for professionals in his entourage, stating, “I’ve always appreciated my manager, my agent, and my publicist. I just know how hard they work and how difficult it is to hear my ups and downs in life.” He conveyed his excitement about playing a character devoted to someone as significant as Clooney’s character, Jay Kelly, emphasizing the importance of such relationships.
During the conference, a journalist posed a thought-provoking question to Sandler regarding what he would like his legacy to be, summarized in one line. Sandler humorously replied that the last line of a movie about him would be: “What the hell just happened?” This light-hearted banter provided a glimpse into Sandler's personality, contrasting with the more serious themes of the film.
