George Clooney Misses Venice Film Festival Press Events Due to Sinus Infection

George Clooney missed several promotional events, including the Venice Film Festival press conference and a cast dinner, for his new Netflix film Jay Kelly due to a severe sinus infection. Despite his absence, co-stars Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, and others attended the events, with Dern expressing that Clooney was devastated not to be present. The film, directed by Noah Baumbach and co-written with Emily Mortimer, was tailored specifically for Clooney, who plays the titular character, a famous actor on a journey of self-discovery across Europe alongside his devoted manager played by Sandler. Baumbach emphasized the importance of Clooney's established relationship with audiences to deepen the film's impact. While Clooney is expected to attend the film's world premiere at Venice, he is unlikely to participate in the screening or travel to the Telluride Film Festival for further promotion. Jay Kelly is slated for UK release in November and will stream on Netflix starting December 5.