Hollywood icons George Clooney and Brad Pitt graced the Venice Film Festival red carpet on Sunday for the much-anticipated world premiere of their latest film, “Wolfs.” The action thriller, directed by Jon Watts, marks a notable return for the stars to the festival, showcasing their long-awaited reunion on screen.
Amal Clooney and George Clooney, accompanied by Brad Pitt, posed for photographers at the Grand Palais, drawing significant attention as they discussed both the film and recent political controversies. George Clooney, who has recently made headlines with his New York Times op-ed urging President Joe Biden to reconsider his reelection bid, spoke on the red carpet about the impact of his public stance.
“The person who should be applauded is the president who did the most selfless thing anyone’s done since George Washington,” Clooney remarked, praising Biden’s decision to step back from the election. “It’s very hard to let go of power. We know that. We’ve seen that all around the world. For someone to say, I think there’s a better way forward? All credit goes to him.”
The conversation soon shifted to “Wolfs,” an old-school action thriller where Pitt and Clooney play two rival fixers hired to clean up a scandal involving a district attorney, portrayed by Amy Ryan. The film’s theatrical release is scheduled to begin on September 20, with a subsequent streaming debut on Apple TV+ set for September 27. Apple TV+ won the rights to the film in a competitive bidding war, outpacing traditional studios and other streaming platforms.
Clooney confirmed that both he and Pitt agreed to reduce their salaries to ensure a theatrical release, despite the limited number of theaters. “It’s a bummer,” Clooney admitted, “that it won’t be wider than a few hundred theaters. We would have liked it, we wanted it. That’s why Brad and I gave some of our money back.”
The two stars expressed their nuanced views on the evolving film industry landscape. Clooney acknowledged the importance of streaming services but also emphasized the enduring value of theatrical releases. “Streaming, we need it, our industry needs it,” he said. “They also benefit from having films released … and we’re figuring it out, we haven’t gotten it figured out yet.”
Producer Jeremy Kliner and Plan B executive noted that they approach filmmaking with a belief in the longevity and impact of their projects. Pitt, reflecting on their collaboration, said, “I think we’ll always be romantic about the theatrical experience but at the same time I love the existence of streamers … it’s a delicate balance. It’ll right itself.”
The Venice Film Festival has been a recurring venue for both actors, though they have only walked the red carpet together once before, in 2008 for “Burn After Reading.” This reunion brought a playful and reflective tone to their appearances, with Clooney joking about their age and the film’s premise.
Jon Watts, known for his work on the “Spider-Man” films, described “Wolfs” as a return to his roots after a period of high-profile superhero projects. Despite his absence from the festival due to COVID-19, his enthusiasm for the project was palpable, with Clooney humorously noting, “He flew all the way here and then he got COVID. So now we’re all going to get it.”
As the festival continues to draw global attention, “Wolfs” stands out as a high-profile release in a competitive year, with Clooney and Pitt’s return to the Venice Film Festival marking a significant moment for their fans and the industry.
