George Clooney and Brad Pitt bring ‘Wolfs’ to the Venice Film Festival

No Hollywood star seems as intrinsically tied to Venice as George Clooney.

Twenty-six years ago, Clooney attended his first Venice Film Festival with the instant classic “Out of Sight”; 19 years ago, he debuted “Good Night, and Good Luck,” which earned him his first best director nomination; and 10 years ago, he exchanged vows with Amal Alamuddin at the Aman Venice, a luxurious five-star hotel along the Grand Canal.

Venice, a city considered one of the most beautiful globally, holds a special place in Clooney’s heart. Unlike most, he is the owner of a 15-bedroom villa on Lake Como, a few hours away, that famously co-starred in “Ocean’s Twelve.”

Though frequently near Venice, or its film festival, it might be surprising that Clooney hasn’t premiered a film there in seven years. That changes next week as he returns with “Wolfs,” a heist thriller directed by Jon Watts and reuniting him with Brad Pitt.

In anticipation, let’s revisit some of Clooney’s most memorable Venice moments.

1998: “Out of Sight”

Clooney’s deep bond with Venice might have begun with Steven Soderbergh’s “Out of Sight.” The then-37-year-old actor, promoting the film with Jennifer Lopez, was about to make another significant career leap by leaving “ER” that February.

2003: “Intolerable Cruelty”

This Coen brothers film, co-starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, premiered out of competition at the 60th Venice Film Festival. Clooney’s Italian villa had already become a hot spot for both amateur and professional paparazzi.

A Vanity Fair profile noted, “That an affable, self-effacing Kentucky-born Hollywood actor is fast becoming the most popular public figure in Italy says a little about Italy and a lot about Clooney, who isn’t Italian, doesn’t speak Italian, and lives here only in summertime.”

2005: “Good Night and Good Luck”

Clooney’s black-and-white dramatization of journalist Edward R. Murrow’s clash with Joseph McCarthy began its successful run at the 62nd Venice Film Festival. While it lost the Golden Lion to Ang Lee’s “Brokeback Mountain,” it picked up six Oscar nominations, including for Clooney’s directing. He will also make his Broadway debut next year in an adaptation.

During this trip, Clooney inspired a cocktail at the ritzy Belmond Hotel Cipriani on Giudecca. The drink, called Buona Notte, consists of lemon, sugar, vodka, cranberry juice, ginger, and Angostura bitters. Another cocktail named La Nina was later created in honor of Clooney’s mother and served at his wedding.

2007: “Michael Clayton”

Tony Gilroy’s “Michael Clayton,” which earned Clooney an Oscar nomination for his role as the titular law firm fixer, played in competition. The top prize went to Ang Lee’s “Lust, Caution,” also competing against notable films like “I’m Not There” and “Atonement.”

2008: “Burn After Reading”

This Coen brothers comedy featuring Clooney and Pitt debuted out of competition on opening night. Clooney humorously remarked that it completed his “trilogy of idiots” he had played for the Coens. At a press conference, Clooney quipped, “Looking at the parts we are playing, I’m very concerned about what you think of us.” Pitt added, “Like George … I’m not sure if I should be flattered or insulted.”

2011: “The Ides of March”

Another opening night, out of competition slot for this Clooney-directed political thriller starring Ryan Gosling and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Clooney was frequently asked political questions, observing that “it’s a very difficult time to govern.”

2013: “Gravity”

Alfonso Cuarón’s “Gravity” opened the 70th Venice Film Festival and went on to win seven Oscars. At the premiere with Sandra Bullock, Clooney self-deprecatingly remarked, “There were only two parts and Sandy had the other one, so I felt like this was the only one I could get away with.”

2014: George and Amal’s Wedding

The canals were packed with paparazzi for the wedding of one of Hollywood’s favorite bachelors. Clooney, 53, and Alamuddin, 36, exchanged vows in front of 100 close friends and family at the Aman Grand Canal, a grand palazzo built in 1550. She wore a custom Oscar de la Renta dress of French lace, pearls, and diamanté accents, while he wore a black wool/cashmere Giorgio Armani tuxedo.

2017: “Suburbicon”

Clooney returned with his directing project, “Suburbicon,” a dark comedic satire starring Matt Damon and Julianne Moore. This appearance was notable as it marked the Clooneys’ first public outing since welcoming twins, Alexander and Ella, a few months prior.

2023: Spotlight on Amal

This year, George played the supportive role as Amal was honored by the Diane von Furstenberg and The Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation for her work as a human rights lawyer. The couple added much-needed star power to last year’s festival during the actors’ strike. “I am here in Venice with my husband; he is a rising star,” she joked. “You, my love, like this city, take my breath away.”