George Clooney is disputing reports about his old friend Brad Pitt's pay for his new movie.
The New York Times reported Last week, news broke that the stars of “Ocean's 11” were paid more than $35 million each for their work on the film.
During a press conference for the film at the Venice Film Festival on SundayClooney told the gathered press about the report.
Clooney said, “(It was) an interesting article, and whatever their source was for our salaries, it's millions and millions of dollars less than what was reported. And I only say that because I think it's bad for our industry if that's the standard people consider salaries.” Per person. “I think it's too bad, it'll make it impossible to make movies.”
Representatives for Clooney did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Clooney also revealed that he and Pitt had returned part of their salaries after a theatrical release deal for “Wolves” fell through, meaning it would receive a limited release.
He also spoke about the current complexities of making and selling movies in Hollywood.
“Yeah, we wanted it to be released (in theaters). We had some hiccups along the way, it happens. When I did (Clooney-directed biographical sports drama) 'The Boys in the Boat,' we did it for MGM, and then it got made for Amazon, and we didn't get an overseas release at all, which was a surprise. There are some elements of it that we're figuring out.”
“All of you guys are in it as well,” he added. “We're all in this industry, and we're trying to find our way after COVID and everything else, and so there are some hiccups along the way. It's definitely a setback, but on the other hand, a lot of people are going to see the film, and we're getting a release in a few hundred theaters, so we're getting a release. But yeah, it would have been nice if we got a wider release.”
Clooney previously said he and Pitt would return some of their salaries By the deadline last year, He said, “Brad and I had made a deal to do that movie where we paid back the money to make sure the movie would get a theatrical release. At the time, that opinion wasn't as popular as it has become over the last year and a half.”
“Wolves” marks the first time Clooney and Pitt have appeared on-screen together in 16 years, since 2008's “Burn After Reading.”
The movie star duo play fixers hired to cover up crimes, and are reluctantly drawn together when they're called on for the same job.
“Wolves” arrives in theaters on Sept. 20 and will be available to stream on AppleTV+ a week later on Sept. 27.
