George Clooney To Direct Film Based On Illegal Hacking Scandal


George Clooney is set to direct a film based on a recent cell phone hacking scandal.

According to The New York Times, George Clooney will direct a movie based on Hack Attack: The Inside Story of How the Truth Caught Up With Rupert Murdoch, written by Nick Davies.

The film, to be produced by Clooney and Grant Heslov for Sony Pictures Entertainment, a direct competitor with Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox, tells the story of Mr. Davies’ reporting at The Guardian in the U.K. that exposed the hacking scandal at Rupert Murdoch’s The News of the World.

According to Coming Soon, a senior Sony Pictures executive, Michael De Luca, commented on why he thought Clooney was a perfect choice to direct the project:

“As the son of a journalist, George has a sharp interest in the role journalism plays in all of our lives – whether that’s for good, as in Good Night and Good Luck, or for bad. With Hack Attack, George will explore the dark side of that world, a business where all the rules of journalism are broken in the race for an easy and ever-larger payday.”

George Clooney commented on the project as well.

“This has all the elements – lying, corruption, blackmail – at the highest levels of government by the biggest newspaper in London. And the fact that it’s true is the best part. Nick [Davies] is a brave and stubborn reporter and we consider it an honor to put his book to film.”

Hack Attack describes how over six years, Nick Davies investigated Murdoch’s News Corporation and its subsidiary, News International. The book showed how Davies exposed the company’s habit of hacking into the phone messages of politicians, celebrities and regular, everyday British citizens if they thought there was something to be gained.

'Hack Attack' by Nick Davies
‘Hack Attack’ by Nick Davies

George Clooney was nominated in 2005 for directing Good Night and Good Luck. The film – mentioned above in De Luca’s comments – recalled CBS anchor Edward R. Murrow during the dark period of McCarthyism.

Currently, we imagine that movies aren’t the first thing on George Clooney’s mind. The Hollywood movie star is preparing for his big wedding to take place sometime this month in Italy. Clooney’s bride to be, Amal Alamuddin is a London-based lawyer, activist and author. She specializes in international law, criminal law, human rights and extradition.

The film based on Hack Attack will be George’s first involvement with a film since he acted in the space epic, Gravity.

George Clooney will start shooting the Hack Attack film next year.

images via Constantine Report and RC News

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