George Clooney’s bank account isn’t quite as opulent as fans were led to believe. During a press conference at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, while speaking on behalf of his and co-star Brad Pitt’s new film Wolfs, Clooney denied that he and Pitt received $35 million each to take part in director, writer and producer Jon Watts’ action comedy. Clooney said while answering a question (per Deadline):
“By the way, there’s a really good report
— Nicole Sperling for The New York Times — she wrote an interesting article about it.
And whatever her source was for our salary [laughs], it is millions and millions and millions of dollars less than what was reported.
And I am only saying that because I think it’s bad for our industry if that’s what people think is the standard-bearer for salaries.
I think that’s terrible. It’ll make it impossible to make films.”
Back on August 25, The New York Times ran Nicole Sperling’s story “Apple Rethinks Its Movie Strategy After a String of Misses,” which included the juicy little morsel that both Clooney and Pitt were paid handsomely for their services on Wolfs — to the tune of $35 million a pop — which is a film that will only enjoy a one-week theatrical release later in September before being available to stream on Apple TV+ just seven days later.
Wolfs Receives Electric 5-Minute Standing Ovation
Is it a true case of he said, she said? Okay, so either George Clooney and Brad Pitt didn’t receive $35 million each for starring in Wolfs, or Clooney is just trying to downplay the exorbitant figure he and Pitt were paid to do the action comedy coming off the heels of last year’s tumultuous Writers Guild of America (WGA) and (Screen Actors Guild & American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) SAG-AFTRA strikes.
Regardless, though, Wolfs is a film both Clooney and Pitt appear to be very proud of. And why not? Director Jon Watts’ new movie is now playing the Venice Film Festival, and it also received a five-minute standing ovation from those attending the screening. Clooney and Pitt hugged one another as the crowd cheered, and the latter reveals how the two Ocean’s Eleven, Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s Thirteen stars and real-life friends finally reunited on-screen. Pitt told Deadline the following:
“We kind of figured there’s gotta be a good reason to get back in a film together
— something we feel like we could build upon what we’ve done before. But also, I gotta say, as I get older,
working with the people that I just really enjoy spending time with has really become important to me.”
MovieWeb’s review of Wolfs reveals that “George Clooney & Brad Pitt reunite for a tired crime thriller throwback.” And during the film’s press conference in Italy, Clooney also addressed how Wolfs will only play in movie theaters for a single week before moving on to streaming. The actor said via the same source (below):
“Yes, we wanted it to be released [theatrically],
we’ve had some bumps along the way, that happens. There are elements of this that we are figuring out.
It is a bummer, of course it’s a bummer.
On the other hand, a lot of people are going to see the film, and we are getting a release in a few hundred theaters.
But, yeah, it would have been nicer to have a wide release.”
Wolfs’ one-week theatrical engagement begins on September 20, right before fans can stream Clooney and Pitt’s new film September 27 on Apple TV+. And be sure to watch the real-life friends and actors celebrating the action comedy’s five-minute ovation at the Venice Film Festival as the pair dances in the video below: