The Monuments Men is a World War II drama written by Clooney and Grant Heslov (Good Night, and Good Luck.) and is set in the latter days of the war. It centres on a team of curators and art historians that come together to salvage priceless works of art from the Nazi regime before they are destroyed forever.
Deadline confirms that Clooney will not only write and direct the film, but also star in the drama alongside a stellar cast which includes Cate Blanchett (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Bill Murray (Moonrise Kingdom), Jean Dujardin (The Artist), Daniel Craig (Skyfall), John Goodman (Argo), Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey), and veteran character actor Bob Balaban (Close Encounters of the Third Kind).
Clooney is without a doubt one of the most bankable stars currently in the film industry, with a superb record of writing, directing and starring in movies that frequently receive Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations, such as Michael Clayton, Syriana, The Ides of March, Up in the Air and The Descendants. He has been keeping himself busy lately, having recently just finished working on Alfonso Curaon's Gravity alongside Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side) as surviving astronauts in a damaged space station, and he was also a producer on Ben Affleck's Argo.
With the announcements of the cast additions to The Monuments Men, it seems George Clooney’s is setting everything is place to ensure that his dominance at the awards ceremonies continues. Filming is due to start in Europe on March 1st.
