George Clooney has tackled a variety of projects as a director, including the world of American politics in The Ides of March and World War II in this year’s The Monuments Men. His next movie could be the most interesting yet though as he looks set to adapt journalist Nick Davies’ book Hack Attack.
It chronicles the scandal which surrounded Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation empire in 2011 when it was revealed that the likes of the News of the World had hacked the voicemails of celebrities, politicians and families whose loved one had been killed in Iraq War or were victims of various crimes.
The movie is set to be released through Sony Pictures, and Davies’ book investigated News Corp’s actions over a period of six years, right up until the point they were exposed to the public and authorities.
“This has all the elements – lying, corruption, blackmail – at the highest levels of government by the biggest newspaper in London,” George Clooney said in a statement released late yesterday evening about the project. “And the fact that it’s true is the best part. Nick is a brave and stubborn reporter and we consider it an honor to put his book to film.” The movie will begin production early next year.
Sony production president Michael De Luca added, “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 of the rules of journalism are broken in the race for an easy and ever-larger payday.”
