Hollywood has long been a glamorous place, but things aren’t always peaches and cream there. One such story of an actor’s nightmarish on-set experience unfolds around George Clooney during one David O. Russell directorial film.
Director David O. Russell and veteran actor George Clooney who is known for movies like Ocean’s Eleven, Gravity, and, Ticket to Paradise once got into a brawl on set. The actor claimed that although David O. Russell was a great filmmaker, but was sometimes rude to the cast and crew of his team.
On-set Clash between George Clooney and the Director
The clash between George Clooney and David O. Russell on the set of Three Kings is one of the most well-known on-set fights in recent times.
George Clooney has openly spoken about his turbulent working relationship with Three Kings director David O. Russell. Russell’s intense and somewhat erratic directing style was a key source of differences between him and Clooney.
In an interview with Far Out Magazine, the actor regaled his tale of his fight with the acclaimed director while on the set of Three Kings. Clooney mentioned one particular scene where his co-star was unable to throw 194 lbs. weighed Ice Cube to the floor and the director rushed to get the co-star down on the floor.
“We were trying to get a shot, and then he went berserk. He went nuts on an extra. I would not stand for him humiliating and yelling and screaming at crew members, who weren’t allowed to defend themselves. I don’t believe in it, and it makes me crazy. So my job was then to humiliate the people who were doing the humiliating”.
He said to Playboy Magazine, “It was truly, without exception, the worst experience of my life”.
Three Kings focused on the story of some American soldiers played by George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and Ice Cube pulling off a gold heist during the 1991 revolts in Iraq.
George Clooney Won’t Ever Work With David O. Russell Again
Although George Clooney acknowledged that David O. Russell is a highly talented director, there are no plans to ever collaborate with him again.
He said, “Will I work with David ever again? Absolutely not. Never. Do I think he’s tremendously talented, and do I think he should be nominated for Oscars? Yeah,” Clooney concluded.
However, Russell downplays it, saying, “We’re both passionate guys who are the two biggest authorities on the set.”
The film Three Kings with a budget of budget of $48 million, managed to turn a profit of $107 million, getting a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite the chaos and turmoil behind the scenes, Three Kings, the chemistry between the actor and director worked out for the film’s success.
Three Kings is available to rent on Apple TV+.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
