NEW YORK —  Ben Affleck (search) missed the London premiere of "Jersey Girl" (search) this week because he was hospitalized in Boston for severe bronchitis, his New York-based publicist confirmed Friday.

The 31-year-old actor had been hospitalized at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center but was now recuperating at his Boston home, Ken Sunshine told AP Radio.

The London screening of the film, directed by Kevin Smith (search), took place Wednesday night. "Jersey Girl," which included a cameo by Affleck's former fiancee, Jennifer Lopez (news), reaped just $8.3 million in its March debut.

Smith killed off Lopez's character minutes into the movie after last summer's bomb, "Gigli," which also paired Affleck and Lopez.