George Clooney has long been seen as the embodiment of classic Hollywood charm and elegance, a figure whose presence on screen once guaranteed attention. But the actor isn’t dwelling on nostalgia—he’s looking at the next generation of talent with interest. And in a rare candid moment, he revealed just how much the industry has shifted since his rise to fame.
Clooney on the End of the Star-Driven Era
“The thing where you put someone’s name above the title and you go see a movie because they’re in it has ended,” Clooney tells Variety. He considers himself part of the last generation of stars who benefited from studios investing in long-term careers.
“When I was on ER, Bob Daly and Terry Semel, who were running Warner Bros. at the time, brought me in and gave me a five-picture deal. Because their company had produced my show, they wanted to be in business with me for the long haul,” he says. Clooney recalls that level of studio commitment as something almost impossible to imagine in today’s industry, where long-term investment in actors has largely disappeared.
Even as the old star-driven system fades, Clooney remains optimistic about what’s next. He highlights a new wave of actors making their mark, singling out Timothée Chalamet and Glen Powell as particularly impressive and describing Zendaya as “an exceptional talent.”
While the era of guaranteed star power may have ended, he sees an exciting group of actors carving out new ways to captivate audiences. Timothée, Glen, and Zendaya may be navigating a more fragmented industry, but Clooney’s endorsement suggests that talent, charisma, and dedication can still shine through even in a very different Hollywood.