George Clooney revealed this week that Johnny Depp and Mark Wahlberg were approached about starring in Ocean’s Eleven (Picture: Getty)
George Clooney and Ocean’s Eleven director Steven Soderbergh swung by the TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood this week.
The pair spoke about their hit 2001 film and George, 61, revealed that the role of character Linus, played by Matt Damon, didn’t go to the A-lister straight away.
In fact, the likes of Johnny Depp and Mark Wahlberg were initially in talks to play the role, but doting dad George said they told Ocean’s Eleven filmmakers to ‘f**k right off’. Yikes.
Touching upon 60-year-old Steven’s popularity in the late nineties, George told those in attendance: ‘Steven had just done Erin Brockovich and Traffic, and he was nominated for directing both films.’
He added, according to Entertainment Weekly: ‘So, people really wanted to work with Steven.’
However, Steven modestly pointed out that some actors turned down the chance to star in Ocean’s Eleven, prompting George to add: ‘They did. Some very famous people told us to f**k right off.
George and Ocean’s Eleven director Steven Soderbergh swung by the TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood (Picture: Getty)
The role of character Linus, played by Matt Damon, didn’t go to the A-lister straight away (Picture: Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock)
Johnny could have played Linus (Picture: Getty)
Mark was also said to have been approached about the role (Picture: Getty)
‘Mark Wahlberg, Johnny Depp. There were others. They regret it now.’
The A-lister then quipped: ‘I regret doing f*****g Batman.’
While George might have bagged a starring role in Ocean’s Eleven, one gig he didn’t scoop was the part of Mitch Winehouse in director Sam Taylor-Johnson’s forthcoming biopic about his famous daughter Amy Winehouse, Back to Black.
Mitch Winehouse wanted George to play him in Sam Taylor-Johnson’s forthcoming biopic about his famous daughter Amy Winehouse (Picture: PA)
George wasn’t actually asked to participate in the film, but that didn’t stop Mitch from declaring the actor would have been a good fit to play him.
Mitch made the comments when lamenting the fact he’s being portrayed by Eddie Marsan in Sam’s much-anticipated film.
Speaking in February, Mitch, 72, joked to The Mail on Sunday: ‘I [was] told my friend that Eddie was playing me and he said – excuse my French – “Eddie f****** Marsan! He’s not very good-looking.” I said, “I know – I wanted George Clooney!”.’
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Back to Black will document jazz legend Amy’s rise to fame and heady London days before her death aged 27 in 2011 from alcohol poisoning.
Metro.co.uk has reached out to Johnny and Mark’s reps for comment.
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Ouch.
