Jonah Hill has announced that he will be taking a step back from promoting films, to focus on his mental health.
In a statement, the 21 Jump Street and Moneyball star has claimed that media and public appearances have “exacerbated” anxiety attacks. He also called this decision, an “important step” for him.
“self discovery”
Releasing this statement, Jonah Hill also revealed that he has just finished off directing his second film, Stutz, a film which Hill has described as a “journey of self-discovery”.
This is a documentary about him and his therapist. It also focusses on the issues surrounding mental health generally.
“The whole purpose of making this film is to give therapy and the tools I’ve learned in therapy to a wide audience for private use through an entertaining film”, the statement read.
“Through this journey of self-discovery within the film, I have come to the understanding that I have spent nearly 20 years experiencing anxiety attacks, which are exacerbated by media appearances and public facing events”.
Jonah Hill will be taking a break from promoting any of his films due to progressive worsening of anxiety attacks exacerbated by film promotion.
His upcoming documentary ‘STUTZ’ will be about himself & his therapist and will explore mental health in general.
(Source: Deadline) pic.twitter.com/aO9cARwNgy
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) August 17, 2022
“grateful”
Jonah Hill also added that he is “grateful” for the opportunity to showcase this film at a “prestigious film festival this fall”.
“I am so grateful that the film will make its world premiere at a prestigious film festival this fall, and I can’t wait to share it with audiences around the world in the hope that it will help those struggling”, he stated.
“However, you won’t see me out there promoting this film, or any of my upcoming films, while I take this important step to protect myself”.
“If I made myself sicker by going out there and promoting it, I wouldn’t be acting true to myself or to the film.”
The actor, who is known for playing comedic characters in films including Superbad, 21 Jump Street and The Wolf Of Wall Street, said he hoped that Stutz would normalise talking about and acting on mental health issues”.
“I usually cringe at letters or statements like this but I understand that I am of the privileged few who can afford to take time off,” Hill added.
“I won’t lose my job while working on my anxiety”
“With this letter and with Stutz, I’m hoping to make it more normal for people to talk and act on this stuff. So they can take steps towards feeling better and so that the people in their lives might understand their issues more clearly”.
“I hope the work will speak for itself and I’m grateful to my collaborators, my business partners and to all reading this for your understanding and support”.
