George Clooney set to direct film about UK phone hacking scandal

Hollywood star George Clooney is to adapt Nick Davies’ book Hack Attack into a film of heady themes including 'blackmail, corruption, and lying'.

17:01 04 September 2014

Hollywood star George Clooney has been confirmed to direct a film based on the book Hack Attack by Guardian Journalist Nick Davies.

The book is based on Davies’ investigation into Rupert Murdoch’s media empire, which uncovered the phone-hacking scandal that rocked the British establishment and resulted in the closure of the News of the World.

Clooney said in a statement: “This 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. Nick is a brave and stubborn reporter and we consider it an honour to put his book to film.”

Michael Luca, president of production for Columbia Pictures, said in a statement: “As the son of a journalist, George has a sharp interest in the role journalism plays in all of our lives – whether that’s for good, as in Good Night, and Good Luck, or for bad.

“With Hack Attack, George will explore the dark side of that world, a business where all of the rules of journalism are broken in the race for an easy and ever-larger payday.”

Shooting of the film, which will be produced through Clooney’s company Smokehouse Pictures, will begin next year.