George Clooney Defends Mark Ruffalo, Questions Paramount-Warner Bros Merger
Variety • • entertainment
Key Points:
- George Clooney received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement Award at the Venice Film Festival, reflecting his long-standing connection to the event and his impactful career in film and television.
- Clooney addressed several topical issues during a press conference, including his support for Mark Ruffalo's free speech amid controversy over Paramount's merger with Warner Bros, which Clooney criticized for potential job losses and financial uncertainty.
- He expressed concerns about the growing influence of artificial intelligence in the entertainment industry, fearing it could negatively affect actors and creative work.
- Discussing the state of journalism and democracy, Clooney highlighted worries about media ownership concentration but remained hopeful for quality journalism and democratic recovery through upcoming elections.
- Clooney revealed plans to focus more on acting rather than directing to spend time with his young children and expressed enthusiasm for a new "Oceans" movie project with Brad Pitt and Matt Damon.
