VENICE – George Clooney plays to type in his latest movie “Jay Kelly,” which premiered at the Venice Film Festival last Thursday, taking on the role of a Hollywood legend who has to count the cost of a lifetime in the spotlight.
US director Noah Baumbach told reporters that as he worked on the project with British actor-writer Emily Mortimer, he realised the role was tailor-made for the charismatic Clooney.
“Early on, we just started to say, this is going to be George,” Baumbach told reporters, saying it was important for the lead actor to be a global superstar whom audiences could instantly relate to, like the character on the screen.
Clooney has a long relationship with Venice, making his first appearance at the world’s oldest film festival 27 years ago. However, he missed Thursday’s press conference after coming down with what organisers described as a severe sinus infection.
“Even movie stars get sick,” said Baumbach, who is entering the main Venice competition for the third time after “Marriage Story” in 2019 and “White Noise” in 2022.
The film tells the story of a celebrated actor stricken by self-doubt while journeying across Europe with his devoted manager, played by Adam Sandler, as the rest of his entourage melts away, including his publicist portrayed by Laura Dern. — Reuters
