George Clooney admits he can no longer direct in unexpected career announcement

George Clooney has announced that his directing career has taken a backseat as he prioritizes family life. The 64-year-old Oscar-winning actor, who is father to eight-year-old twins Alexander and Ella, made this revelation while discussing his latest film, Noah Baumbachs comedy-drama Jay Kelly.

I have eight-year-old children, so I need to adjust my career choices directing requires being on the road for ten months, Clooney told the Irish Examiner. At this stage, directing isnt something I can manage because I need to be home and present for my kids. Decisions like these become easier later in life after youve established yourself, he added. For younger people trying to build their careers, these choices are much tougher. At 64, its simpler.

Clooney has been married to British lawyer and human rights advocate Amal Clooney since 2014. The couple shares their twins, and the actor has reflected on how parenthood has shifted his perspective. In a recent NPR interview, he recalled a humorous exchange with his son, who dressed as Batman for Halloween, a role Clooney famously played in the 1997 film Batman & Robin. I told him, I was Batman, and he replied, Yeah, not really, Clooney said, highlighting his sons candid honesty.

Beyond acting, Clooney has directed several films, beginning with 2002s Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and 2005s Good Night, and Good Luck, which later inspired a Broadway adaptation. His most recent directorial project was the 2023 sports drama The Boys in the Boat, telling the true story of the University of Washington rowing team that won gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

In Jay Kelly, now available on Netflix, Clooney portrays an aging film star who embarks on a journey of self-discovery following the death of his mentor. The film also features Adam Sandler, Emily Mortimer, Riley Keough, Billy Crudup, and Greta Gerwig. Critics have noted that while Clooney largely remains in his familiar charming persona, his performance in Jay Kelly reveals a more vulnerable and emotionally raw side than audiences have previously seen.

Author: Riley Thompson