They had fun at the multiplex with the 'Ocean's' trilogy of movies, made a topical movie together with "Syriana," Damon popped his head into Clooney's directorial debut "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," and Clooney produced Steven Soderbergh's excellent and underrated "The Informant!" starring Damon. And now, the helmer is re-upping Damon for what will hopefully be a substantial role in his next effort behind the camera, which has all the makings for a big piece of Oscar cheese.
Damon is in talks to join the already star-studded cast for "The Monuments Men." Daniel Craig, Cate Blanchett, Bill Murray, Jean Dujardin, John Goodman, Hugh Bonneville, and Bob Balaban are already on board the picture, a big-budget adaptation of Robert M. Edsel's "The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History," that tells the true story of a hand-picked group of American and British art experts chosen by the U.S. government to try to retrieve artwork stolen by the Nazis.
We feel bad for whoever is going to have to design the poster and put all these on there, but goddamn if this cast isn't one to get excited about. Clooney will also star in the movie, as U.S. army officer George Stout, with Blanchett in the role of a French resistance fighter and art historian, but no word the parts for anyone else. Production begins on March 1st, and we're guessing Sony will be wanting this one for the Oscar run next fall. [Deadline]