1 Nov – Despite the fact that "Skyfall" leading man Daniel Craig is still busy promoting the 23rd instalment of the James Bond series around the world, the British actor has decided to join the star-studded cast line-up of George Clooney's new historical drama entitled "The Monuments Men", according to Empire Online. Directed and co-written by Clooney, the movie is based on the book "The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, And The Greatest Treasure Hunt In History" by Robert M Edsel and it centers on a group of art experts hired by the American government to track the stolen European art pieces during World War II. Craig, 44, has been confirmed to star opposite the likes of "Lost In Translation" actor-comedian Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett of "The Aviator", this year's Oscar Best Actor award recipient and French star Jean Dujardin of "The Artist", and John Goodman of "Argo".
Not only will Clooney direct the film, "The Descendants" actor will also star in it as George Stout, a U.S. army officer and leading art conservationist, who repatriated the arts stolen by the Nazis with a team of art experts. Meanwhile, he will collaborate with George Heslov, whom he worked with in "The Ides Of March" and "Good Night And Good Luck", to produce and write the screenplay for the drama.
The film will be shot in Germany, England, Austria and Paris in March next year.