Clooney to play 'The Janitor'

The actor will clean up client's messes as New York attorney 'Michael Clayton' in Tony Gilroy's forthcoming directorial debut.

May 10 2005

George Clooney is to play a successful New York lawyer in 'Michael Clayton', a new thriller set to go into production early next year.

The film will be written and directed by Tony Gilroy, whose previous credits include 'The Bourne Identity' and 'The Bourne Supremacy' screenplays.

Clooney will star as the title character, nicknamed 'The Janitor' because of his talent for clearing up messes and making clients' personal problems disappear.

The story will take place over the course of the four worst days in his career.

'Michael Clayton' won't be the first time Gilroy has dabbled in the courtroom drama genre, as he previously scripted the enjoyably silly Al Pacino thriller 'The Devil's Advocate' in 1997.

Filming is due to start in January 2006, after Clooney has finished work on 'Syrianna', 'The Good Shepherd' and his second film in the director's chair, 'Goodnight and Good Luck'.

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