News Digest

'Lying and corruption': Clooney to make film on phone hacking scandal

George Clooney is planning to direct a movie about the phone hacking scandal which rocked the British establishment and saw the closure of the News Of The World. Film studio Sony Pictures Entertainment confirmed that Clooney had put his name to an adaptation of the 2014 book Hack Attack. The novel by journalist Nick Davies documents how British newspapers hacked into the voicemails of countless high-profile figures.

This has all the elements - lying, corruption, blackmail - at the highest levels of government by the biggest newspaper in London. And the fact that it’s true is the best part.

George Clooney

The News Of The World closed in 2011 after it was revealed members of staff had hacked into the phones of celebrities, members of the royal family and crime victims. Clooney, who is the son of TV journalist Nick Clooney, earned a best director Oscar nomination in 2006 for the film Good Night, And Good Luck which tells the story of broadcast news legend Edward R Murrow.