Clooney to Direct Film About British Phone Hacking Scandal

George Clooney is going to direct a film which is an adaptation of the book "Hack Attack" written by Guardian journalist Nick Davies.

The book reveals Davies' investigation of Rupert Murdoch's news empire, which led to the uncovering of the phone-hacking scandal. The scandal ultimately made Murdoch shut down News of the World.

"This has all the elements - lying, corruption, blackmail - at the highest levels of government by the biggest newspaper in London."  "And the fact that it's true is the best part. Nick is a brave and stubborn reporter and we consider it an honor to put his book to film," Clooney said in a statement released by Sony pictures, reports The Guardian.

Michael De Luca of Columbia Pictures said that George Clooney being the son of a journalist, has evinced keen interest in the role journalism plays in everybody's lives. De Luca said that in the film "Hack Attack" Clooney will look at the dark side of world of journalism, reports AFP.

Though no release date has been fixed, the shooting will begin next year, Sony said.

After studying News Corporation and News International for six years, Nick Davies found  that in the media world everything was for sale and no one was free from it.

 The phone hacking trial, which brought to the front the close relationship between the media empire of Murdoch and politicians is also the most expensive trial in British Legal history. It also revealed the unrestrained methods of the tabloid press of Britain.

Eventually, Murdoch had to shut down News of the World after it became known that the paper had illegally accessed the voicemail inbox of murdered schoolgirl,  Milly Dowler.

Clooney will also be the co- producer of the film along with Grant Heslov, reports AFP.