It’s been a while, but George Clooney is coming back to the small screen. Besides the cameo as Dr. Doug Ross in the ER’s final season in 2009, Clooney didn’t star in a TV show since 2000. Now, it was announced that Clooney will direct and star in the miniseries adaptation of Joseph Heller’s satirical novel Catch-22.
Catch-22 was already adapted as a feature film in 1970, which was directed by Mike Nichols and starred Alan Arkin, Bob Balaban, and Martin Balsam. Paramount Television produced a pilot for a TV show starring Richard Dreyfuss in 1973, but the project never moved forward. Now, Paramount Television is joining forces with Anonymous Content to produce a 6 episode series. Luke Davies (Lion) and David Michod (War Machine) are attached as writers as the miniseries searches for a network. With Clooney as a director and part of the cast, there are no doubts that Catch-22 will spark a serious bidding war.
Released in 1961, Catch-22 is considered to be one of the most significant and influential novels of the 20th century. Inspired by Joseph Heller’s own experience, the novel is set during World War II and tells the story of U.S. Army Air Forces B-25 bombardier Captain John Yossarian. For its major part, the novel revolves around Yossarian’s experience in the base, and struggles of him and other airmen to keep their sanity while they hope to return home.
Since he left the small screens, George Clooney established himself as one of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood. He starred in numerous successful movies including Ocean’s Trilogy, Syriana, Michael Clayton and The Monuments Men. For his role in the movie Syriana, Clooney received Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Besides acting, Clooney has been active as a director and producer, with his latest project being 2017 movie Suburbicon starring Matt Damon.
