George Clooney Plotting Enron Film?

From: Empire
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Enron, the hit play that has been causing waves around the country since it premiered in Chichester in August 2009, has been snapped up across the pond for a possible film adaptation, with George Clooney attached to co-produce and possibly direct it.

Very little else is known at this stage, since all that has happened so far is producer Laura Ziskin snagging the rights to remake Lucy Prebble’s work on screen and securing Clooney’s interest.

Enron, as its name suggests, charts the rise and even more spectacular fall of the gigantic energy corporation, which collapsed in 2001 and was one of the most complicated and far-reaching bankruptcies to happen before 2008’s big financial crisis really kicked in.

It sounds right up Clooney’s alley, but some in the British theatrical community are understandably dismayed at the fact that, while Prebble has been hired to write at least one draft of the script, the cast of the play, which included Samuel West and Tim Pigott-Smith, won’t be recreating their roles.

"It's a great shame that the original talent hasn't been able to follow through, to put on to film what they've originally created," Philip Hedley, ex-director of the Theatre Royal Stratford East, tells the paper. And original play director Rupert Goold is also unlikely to be involved. “How do you compete with George Clooney?” he says. Good question. Cheese eating contest?

Still, the film version is at an embryonic stage, so there remains a chance that some of the original cast could make the transition, even if they don't exactly boast a lot of international appeal...

Would like to see him direct only, he might be really good at it.

I'm with you: I think he's a better director than actor. As much as it's lovely to see him on screen, I wish he'd concentrate on making good films from behind the cameras.

Now that Laura Ziskin's dead, wonder if this project will go ahead?

I'm with you: I think he's a better director than actor. As much as it's lovely to see him on screen, I wish he'd concentrate on making good films from behind the cameras..

Totally agre with you both! My fave movies from hsi career are the ones he directed : good night and good luck, confessions of a dangerous mind. SO, I am really rooting for the ides of march

Would love to see him direct only, he's always having to act and direct bet he would have better results only directing.

lucy wrote:Would love to see him direct only, he's always having to act and direct bet he would have better results only directing.

Agreed! His talents as a director far exceeds his acting talents. Not that I mind looking at him in a movie.

This is one movie I want to see him direct versus act, hopefully the project will move forward. Not seeing much on IMDB about it, does anyone have IMDB pro?

Yep, me and that was all I could find about it.

Well, it's been a long time since we've heard any more about this project. Thanks Henway for finding the link:

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The Royal Court in London, one of the most important new-writing theatres in the world, has over the years been crucial in making the names of writers including Arnold Wesker, Christopher Hampton, Caryl Churchill, Hanif Kureshi, Sarah Kane, Martin McDonagh and Simon Stephens.

Hell, it was even where "The Rocky Picture Horror Show" started out. And in the last few years, it's been on as impressive a run as any in its history, premiering the acclaimed likes of Jez Butterworth's "Jerusalem," Lucy Prebble's "Enron," Polly Stenham's "That Face," Bruce Norris' Pulitzer Prize-winning "Clybourne Park" and Nick Payne's "Constellations," all of which went on to ecstatic reviews, and often transfers to the West End or the U.S.

So far, though, none of this recent batch have made it to the screen, though several are in development: George Clooney picked up the rights to "Enron," while Stenham's second play "Tusk Tusk" is in development at Film4, with "Doctor Who" director Adam Smith attached. But it looks like we're finally getting one moving forward, with a director behind one of the most acclaimed and popular British films of the last few years on board, as Screen Daily report that Lone Scherfig, director of "An Education," will direct the film version of Laura Wade's "Posh."

Sounds interesting! He really does try to do films that inform and entertain. He takes chances on issues others won't touch and that is what I admire about him.

I thought he picked this up before he did IOM? He has been "attached" to a few films that I have never seen come to fruition.

Yes, the first post on this is from December 2010 so it goes quite a way back. There's a bunch of films here in this section that have had George's name attached for a while now.

Mmm, my understanding at the time he acquired it was that he would retain and liaise with the play's writer, Lucy Prebble. And I believe the director of the play in the West End, who was Rupert Gould, was not a particularly happy bunny, but I can't remember why. Sorry

Katiedot wrote:Yes, the first post on this is from December 2010 so it goes quite a way back. There's a bunch of films here in this section that have had George's name attached for a while now.

Must check.

@Katie, the indiewire's article you posted is dated from december 2010,
Not new.