George Clooney hits back at Tarantino over movie star status row
George Clooney doesn't hold back when it comes to bearing a grudge. The iconic director got under the Hollywood star's skin with his strange comments. Now the actor is responding.
14 August 2024 18:37
George Clooney and Brad Pitt are now promoting their new joint movie "Lone Wolves," so they gave a joint interview for GQ magazine. In the conversation, Clooney openly commented on his position in Hollywood, responding to recent remarks by Quentin Tarantino, who questioned his status as a movie star.
Sparring with Tarantino
"Quentin said some (...) about me recently, so I'm a little irritated by him," George said. "He did some interview where he was naming movie stars, and he was talking about you, and somebody else, and then this guy goes, ‘Well, what about George?’ He goes, he’s not a movie star And then he literally said something like, ‘Name me a movie since the millennium.’ And I was like, ‘Since the millennium? That’s kind of my whole (...) career'"
Clooney must have been clearly upset, as he sent Tarantino a short "f*ck off."
George Clooney not a movie star?
Tarantino's words are surprising. He collaborated with George on the set of the cult classic "From Dusk Till Dawn" in 1996, but since then, Clooney's portfolio has included several blockbuster and quality films. For example, he starred in "Ocean's Eleven" and its sequels, "Solaris," "Good Night and Good Luck," with the Coen Brothers, and alongside Ryan Gosling in "The Ides of March." In 2006, he received an Oscar for his performance in "Syriana." It can be safely said that Quentin Tarantino's words are grossly exaggerated.
Hollywood no longer creates stars?
Both actors shared their thoughts on the changes in the film industry. According to Clooney, Hollywood has stopped shaping stars as it used to. Clooney said they were lucky to be at the end of that era, emphasising that it is harder today to sell films based solely on star names. However, he points to the positive aspect of the situation: more productions give greater opportunities to young actors.
"Lone Wolves" starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt in the lead roles, will have its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival and then will launch on Apple TV+ on 27 September, after a one-week theatrical release starting on 20 September in the UK.