George Clooney to direct ‘Hack Attack,’ about British media scandal
George Clooney is answering the call to direct “Hack Attack” for Sony Pictures, an adaptation of journalist Nick Davies’ book about the British phone-hacking scandal that erupted around Rupert Murdoch’s news empire.
Davies investigated Murdoch’s News Corp. and its subsidiary News International over six years, and his book recounts their common practice of hacking into the voice mail accounts of elected officials, celebrities and ordinary British citizens.
Revelations of the scandal shocked Britain and triggered a massive backlash, prompting Murdoch to shut down the 168-year-old News of the World newspaper in 2011 and spurring a government inquiry that revealed outrageous business practices.
“This has all the elements -- lying, corruption, blackmail -- at the highest levels of government by the biggest newspaper in London,” Clooney said in a statement. “And the fact that it’s true is the best part.”
The son of a journalist, Clooney has tackled issues related to journalism, politics and real events in many of his previous directorial efforts, including “Good Night, and Good Luck,” “The Ides of March” and “The Monuments Men.”
Clooney will produce “Hack Attack” with Grant Heslov under their Smokehouse banner. Shooting is scheduled to start next year.
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