In a recent GQ magazine cover story, George Clooney, alongside longtime friend and co-star Brad Pitt, opened up about the changing landscape of movie stardom in Hollywood. Clooney didn’t shy away from addressing Quentin Tarantino’s recent comments, which suggested that Clooney is no longer considered a movie star.
This remark, coming from the director who worked with Pitt on “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and with Clooney on “From Dusk Till Dawn” in 1996, clearly struck a nerve with Clooney.
Clooney expressed his frustration, recalling Tarantino’s words about him not being a movie star and dismissing his post-millennium career. He humorously fired back, pointing out that the bulk of his successful career took place after the millennium. Clooney added, “So now I’m like, all right, dude, fuck off. I don’t mind giving him shit.”
When discussing Hollywood’s current state, both Clooney and Pitt noted that the industry no longer produces stars like it did during their rise to fame. Clooney attributed this change to the decline of the studio system, which once carefully cultivated and promoted stars over multiple films. He acknowledged that this shift makes it harder to market films based solely on star power.
However, Clooney also noted the advantages for young actors today, highlighting the sheer volume of content now available compared to when he started his career. He contrasted the current 600 shows on air with the much smaller number during his early days in the industry.
Despite appearing less frequently on screen in recent years, Clooney is increasing his workload with projects like “Wolfs” and an upcoming Netflix feature directed by Noah Baumbach, co-starring Adam Sandler and Laura Dern. Reflecting on his four-decade-long career, Clooney admitted his surprise at his longevity in the business, noting that sustaining such a career is rare.
Clooney also addressed the perception that he often plays versions of himself, countering that his diverse filmography, including roles in “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” and “Michael Clayton,” speaks to his range as an actor. He attributed his ability to take on various genres to not being typecast in any one style, allowing him to explore different avenues.
“Wolfs,” starring Clooney and Pitt, is set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival and will be available on Apple TV+ starting September 27, following a limited theatrical release on September 20. For the full interview, you can visit GQ’s website.