George Clooney is making a movie about the UK phone hacking scandal

By Katie Rife | September 3, 2014 | 10:24pm

Aux Features Film

George Clooney’s new movie will be about a phone hacking scandal. No, not the one that terrified everyone who’s ever taken a naughty smartphone picture. The one that directly led to Rupert Murdoch getting hit in the face with a pie. Clooney has reportedly signed on to direct Hack Attack, based on journalist Nick Davies’ book about the U.K.-based reporters for Murdoch’s News International who allegedly tapped the phones of everyone from royalty to the families of murder victims.

Clooney has delved into the media before, in his second directorial effort Good Night, And Good Luck; in a statement to Variety, Clooney said the story “has all the elements—lying, corruption, blackmail—at the highest levels of government by the biggest newspaper in London. And the fact that it’s true is the best part.” It’s too early for any casting announcements, but Clooney will produce with his frequent collaborator Grant Heslov for Sony Pictures Entertainment.