George Clooney Says Life Is Too Short To Work With ‘Miserable’ Directors Like David O. Russell

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George Clooney Says Life Is Too Short To Work With 'Miserable' Directors Like David O. Russell

As a seasoned movie enthusiast with over three decades of experiencing Hollywood’s highs and lows, I can confidently say that I stand firmly behind George Clooney’s decision to avoid working with the enigmatic figure that is David O. Russell. The man has a knack for turning film sets into battlegrounds, leaving a trail of disgruntled actors and crew members in his wake.

George Clooney continues to express no positive sentiments towards David O. Russell, the director of “Three Kings.” In the 1999 film, Clooney played a role alongside Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube, under the guidance of the up-and-coming director David O. Russell. However, the production of the movie was challenging, as Russell frequently argued with the crew, with Clooney intervening on occasion. Tensions between the actor and director escalated to the point of physical altercations.

George Clooney recently chatted with GQ UK about his upcoming movie, “Wolves“, co-starring Brad Pitt, directed by Jon Watts of “Spider-Man: No Way Home” fame. At 63 years old, Clooney has become pickier when it comes to choosing film projects and the people he collaborates with. He emphasized that life is too brief to spend it working with individuals he doesn’t enjoy, using “Three Kings” director David O. Russell as an illustration of someone he appreciates professionally. You can read his entire statement below:

As you grow older, the way you perceive time changes significantly. Five months from your life is a substantial amount and therefore, it’s not simply a matter of saying, “I’ll do an exceptional film like ‘Three Kings’, even if David O. Russell makes my life and everyone else on set miserable.” At this stage in my life, the hassle isn’t worth it. I just want to produce something good.

David O. Russell Is Infamously Controversial

In 2003, Russell wasn’t just George Clooney who had problems; he also clashed with high-profile figures like Christopher Nolan, putting him in a headlock. There are recorded instances of him shouting abusively at Lily Tomlin on the set of ‘I Heart Huckabees’, using offensive and sexist language before walking off. Emails leaked from Sony Pictures showed that Russell made life difficult for Amy Adams during the filming of ‘American Hustle’, to the extent that Christian Bale had to protect her from their director. Adams herself admitted in 2016 to GQ UK that Russell would make her cry on set.

Russell’s inappropriate conduct isn’t limited to his professional life. In 2011, his niece Nicole Peloquin reported an incident where Russell allegedly sexually assaulted her, but the case was dropped due to a lack of witnesses. According to a police report filed in December 2011, Russell offered to help his niece with abdominal exercises and inquired about hormones she used to enlarge her breasts. Subsequently, he is reported to have groped her. Russell later admitted to the incident, explaining it as being “protective.” This incident was disclosed in the 2014 Sony email leak, indicating that Russell’s behavior has been widely recognized within the industry. Remarkably, despite this public knowledge, Russell has managed to secure roles, including ones for a movie about John Madden with Will Ferrell and a Linda Ronstadt biopic featuring Selena Gomez.

George Clooney doesn’t seem to be losing out by not collaborating with Russell, given that he has skillfully transitioned into being a proficient director himself. Now that Clooney’s stardom and wealth provide him the luxury of selecting projects he genuinely cares about, it’s quite impressive that he has chosen to be part of the Wolfs project directed by Jon Watts.

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2024-08-13 21:02