Goerge Clooney video interview – Contenders London – Deadline

George Clooney described his The tender bar direct Ben Affleck as “a really wonderful actor who hasn’t had a lot of good roles to show it.”

Making an in-person appearance at Today’s Deadline Contenders in London alongside his producer partner Grant Heslov, Clooney said Goodwill hunting The Affleck star “is coming to an age where you can grow in some parts.”

“I’m at the age you come out of it, but it’s growing in them,” Clooney added.

“It was exactly the right time for Ben and he was the first person we thought of [for the film]. “

Clooney went on to joke that “Ben behaved well with Batman but was only once named “the sexiest man in the world,” while saying, “I don’t think anyone would argue that of all the batmen, I was the best.”

Heslov added that Affleck is “funnier than most people I know,” citing his comedic scenes in Goodwill hunting.

scripted by The dead Oscar winner William Monahan and based on the 2005 memoir by JR Moehringer, The tender bar recounts the author’s experience searching for a father figure among the patrons of his uncle’s Long Island bar. It also stars Tye Sheridan, Lily Rabe, Christopher Lloyd and newcomer Daniel Ranieri.

Clooney explained that the source material reminded him of his own upbringing.

“I was very interested in this story,” he added. “My father gave me 50 cents to buy a bag of cigarettes from a bar machine. “

Clooney also praised Loan Player One the star Sheridan, who plays Moehringer in his youth, and especially Daniel Ranieri, a beginner who plays the future child author. Clooney had seen a viral video shot by his mother, in which the youngster mocked the “fu * king lockdown” of the Covid pandemic that left him confined to the house. He saw the young man taping Jimmy Kimmel and called the host, who put Ranieri on the phone to read a few lines that convinced Clooney and Heslov the young man could take on the role.

“I’ve worked with a lot of kids in the ER and you just want to murder them,” he said. “But we saw Daniel on Jimmy Kimmel and I said to Jimmy ‘Tell him not to take any more work.’ There’s a seven page scene in a car with his dad and he did it in one. only take. Ben or I couldn’t do that.

Amazon Studios opens the coming-of-age drama on December 17 in Los Angeles and New York City, followed by a nationwide rollout five days later. The film will be available worldwide to stream on January 7 via Amazon Prime Video.

Check back on Monday for the panel video.