George Clooney’s next directorial effort is putting together quite the cast. Per Deadline, Clooney is in talks withMatt Damon,Julianne Moore, andJosh Brolinto lead his next film,Suburbicon. The 1950s-set noir drama boasts a script byJoelandEthan Coen, who with this,Unbroken, andBridge of Spieshave carved out a new side-career as screenwriters for other people’s projects.
While the film is not yet set up at a studio, Sony Pictures is apparently the frontrunner to distribute what will surely be a star-studded affair. But that’s not all! Clooney has secured Oscar-winnerRobert Elswit(There Will Be Blood,Nightcrawler) as his director of photography, ensuring that this will be immaculately photographed as well.
While little is known about the plot at the moment,Suburbiconis said to be in the vein of the Coens’Blood Simple. Filming is set to get underway next October once the schedules for all involved clear, but this is shaping up to be one hell of a promising feature.
That said, there’s certainly reason to pause. Clooney’s last directorial effort,The Monuments Men, was a star-studded affair with a promising premise, but in execution was a bland disappointment. Some may feel this is a warning sign to not get excited aboutSuburbicon, but I think it actually makes the film more interesting. Clooney was candid about the disappointment ofMonuments Men, and now he’s got something to prove—with a Coen Brothers script, Robert Elswit, and a stellar cast in tow. It’s possible he’s itching to fully expand the directorial talents he’s shown shades of in previous films, and I’m mighty curious to see how he approaches this material.
Clooney and Damon, of course, go way back, and the actor just recently worked opposite Brolin on the Coen Brothers’ next filmHail, Caesar!. These actors haven’t completed their deals yet so it’s possible one or more may fall out (Brolin will likely have to fit theAvengers: Infinity Warshoot into his schedule late next year), but I say so far, so good.
