George Clooney arrived at the Venice Film Festival on August 26, 2025, to promote his latest film, Jay Kelly. However, the actor unexpectedly withdrew from the event on August 27 after falling ill, prompting concerns about his condition. The decision to leave was made following medical advice, as Clooney prioritized rest to recover in time for the movie’s premiere.
Sources close to Clooney have reassured the public that his health issue is not serious. The actor opted out of multiple scheduled appearances on Wednesday, aiming to regain full strength ahead of the screening at the Sala Grande movie theater on August 28.
Departure by Boat: Clooney and Amal Cut Festival Day Short
That Wednesday, Clooney missed a private dinner featuring cast members such as Adam Sandler and Laura Dern, along with Netflix executives and other key attendees. He also shortened his time at the press junket. Clooney and his wife, Amal, left their hotel, the Hotel Excelsior, by boat early that afternoon to return home and focus on his recovery.
According to Variety, Clooney’s representatives confirmed,
“George has been diagnosed with a sinus infection,”
and added,
“[He] is under doctors orders to cut back all activities today.”
As a result, Clooney’s co-stars and the film’s director, Noah Baumbach, are slated to attend Thursday’s press events, allowing Clooney additional time to rest before the premiere.
The Story Behind the Film’s Title Role and Its Connection to Clooney
In Jay Kelly, George Clooney portrays an aging film actor who embarks on a personal journey of self-reflection and acceptance of uncomfortable realities. At 64, Clooney finds parallels with his character’s experience.
He explained to Vanity Fair,
“If you can’t make peace with aging, then you’ve got to get out of the business and just disappear.”
Embracing his age, Clooney added,
“I’m now the guy that, when I go running after a bad guy, it’s funny—it’s not suspenseful. That’s okay. I embrace all of that.”
Adam Sandler, who also stars in the film, expressed how Jay Kelly’s character resonated with his own life, which influenced his decision to participate in the project. He stated,
“As a guy who’s an actor who’d live a similar life to Jay Kelly, it’s a crazy depiction—how accurate a lot of it is.”
Jay Kelly is scheduled for a limited theatrical release in November 2025, followed by a Netflix streaming debut in December.
