George Clooney Reflects on Louvre Heist and Teases "Ocean’s 14" at AFI Fest Premiere of "Jay Kelly"
At the AFI Fest premiere of his latest film, "Jay Kelly," directed by Noah Baumbach, George Clooney shared his thoughts on the recent jewel heist at the Louvre, drawing amusing parallels to his iconic "Ocean’s" franchise. "As a professional thief in my films, I can’t help but admire those guys," Clooney quipped during our conversation on Thursday night.
The Louvre heist, which took place on Sunday morning, involved four suspects who made off with eight priceless pieces valued at over $100 million. Clooney expressed his disbelief at the audacity of the criminals, who managed to execute their plan "in broad daylight." With a hint of concern, he described the theft as "terrible" and wondered if authorities would catch the culprits, noting, “They seem to have done a pretty good job escaping.”
When asked if the infamous heist might inspire "Ocean’s 14," Clooney joked, "I think we should rob the Louvre." Excitement is building around the upcoming sequel, which is set to begin filming next year. Original stars Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Don Cheadle are expected to reprise their roles. According to Variety, David Leitch, known for "The Fall Guy" and "Bullet Train," is on board to direct the highly anticipated film. “The script is done and we’re in great shape," Clooney confirmed. "It’s just a matter of scheduling now.”
In "Jay Kelly," Clooney portrays an aging movie star reflecting on his life choices and the quest for fame as he journeys to Europe to receive a lifetime achievement honor at a film festival. The film also features Adam Sandler as his manager and Laura Dern as his publicist.
Clooney reminisced about his early career in Hollywood before he skyrocketed to fame with "ER." "I kept trying—doing 13 TV pilots—some were hits like ‘Roseanne,’ but I wasn’t the star. Then ‘ER’ came along, and everything changed. I was lucky to benefit from great writing and a prime time slot."
Throughout his illustrious career, Clooney has never been one to take breaks lightly. “If you slow down, you die,” he remarked, highlighting his relentless work ethic.
"Jay Kelly" will hit select theaters on November 14 and will be available on Netflix starting December 5.
For more glimpses from the AFI Fest premiere of "Jay Kelly," check out the stunning photos below, featuring Clooney alongside co-stars Adam Sandler and Riley Keough, as well as director Noah Baumbach and other notable attendees.
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