George Clooney has addressed recent reports concerning the salaries he and Brad Pitt received for their latest film.
The two actors, who previously co-starred in Ocean’s Eleven, have teamed up again for a new action comedy titled Wolfs.
In the film, they play professional “lone-wolf” fixers forced to work together to cover up a high-profile crime.
Wolfs had its first screening at the Venice Film Festival on Sunday. During a press conference before the premiere, Clooney responded to a report, published on August 25, which claimed that both he and Pitt earned “more than $35 million each” for the film.
The same report stated that the film’s director, Jon Watts, received “more than $15 million.”
This article followed Apple’s decision to scale back the theatrical release of Wolfs in the U.S.
Instead of a wide release, the film will be shown in a limited number of theaters for one week before becoming available on Apple TV+ on September 27.
Apple also confirmed that a sequel to Wolfs is in the works, with Watts set to write, direct, and produce it.
The reported salaries sparked considerable online debate, with fans questioning whether such pay is sustainable for the film industry, especially given the movie’s limited theatrical run.
Some expressed disbelief that Apple would spend $85 million on just three crew members for a movie with such a brief theatrical window, arguing that the funds could have supported several other productions.
Others criticized the notion that any actor should command such a high salary.
Clooney, however, refuted the figures reported, describing them as inaccurate. He clarified that he and Pitt were paid “millions and millions and millions of dollars less” than what was reported.
Clooney emphasized that he felt compelled to correct the record because he believes it would be harmful to the industry if people accepted those numbers as standard.
He echoed the concerns of fans, warning that such high perceived salaries could make it difficult to produce films.
During the press conference, Clooney also expressed his disappointment that Wolfs would not receive a wide theatrical release.
He described Apple’s revised strategy as a “bummer,” acknowledging that the industry is navigating challenges, particularly in the post-COVID era.
He noted that while there have been setbacks, the film industry as a whole is still trying to find its footing.
