George Clooney and Brad Pitt take over Venice restaurant during double date ahead of 'Wolfs' premiere
VENICE, ITALY: George Clooney and Brad Pitt transformed a restaurant into their own personal stage during a double date with their partners, Amal Clooney and Ines de Ramon, ahead of hitting the red carpet of the Venice Film Festival.
The A-list duo turned into impromptu waiters at Ristorante da Ivo on Saturday, August 31, just a day before the highly anticipated premiere of their film 'Wolfs'.
George Clooney and Brad Pitt play waiters during a double date in Venice
George Clooney, 63, and Brad Pitt, 60, clearly took their hosting duties to heart, much to the amusement of their fellow diners.
The 'Three Kings' star, known for his charm as much as his acting, commandeered the restaurant for about half an hour.
According to an Apple TV party member told People, "George took over the running of the restaurant for about half an hour. He went around to all our tables pretending to take the orders."
The insider added, "The menu that had been established had a whole complicated and long explanation on it for each dish … but George just made his interpretation of it and it was absolutely hilarious. He had us all in tears laughing. Oh, and by the way, his sidekick was Brad Pitt... Who is ever going to believe us?"
The dining experience was a treat not just for the guests but for the stars themselves.
The menu featured a delectable array of Italian delicacies: fiori di zucca in pastella (zucchini flowers in batter stuffed with mozzarella), porcini mushrooms and truffle risotto, tagliata di manzo (sliced beef), and paccheri pasta.
For dessert, George and Brad indulged in tiramisu, while Amal Clooney and the 'Fight Club' star's girlfriend, Ines, opted for wild strawberry sorbet.
The sumptuous three-course meal was accompanied by both red and white wine.
George and Amal, who had their first official date in London in October 2013, tied the knot in September 2014.
Meanwhile, Brad and Ines began dating in late 2022, following the latter's divorce from 'The Vampire Diaries' actor Paul Wesley.
George Clooney jokes about Brad Pitt's age and their on-screen chemistry
The couples' culinary escapade came on the heels of George Clooney and Brad Pitt's on-screen reunion in 'Wolfs'.
The longtime friends were previously part of Steven Soderbergh's 2001 heist film 'Ocean's Eleven'. Its commercial success led to two sequels, 'Ocean's Twelve' (2004) and 'Ocean's Thirteen' (2007), in which both actors reprised their roles.
On Sunday, 'Wolfs' made its debut at the Venice Film Festival, one of the three major autumn festivals—along with Toronto and Telluride—that often set the stage for potential Oscar contenders, as per the BBC.
Brad and George were greeted with enthusiastic cheers as they arrived on the Lido, prior to the film's screening at the Palazzo del Cinema.
In the film, the duo plays criminal "clean-up" specialists who, unexpectedly, find themselves tasked with the same job of disposing of a body in a hotel room.
True to his fashion, George jested about his co-star's age during a news conference, saying of Brad, "He’s 74 years old so he’s very lucky at this age to be working."
He further teased their on-screen partnership, quipping, "The restraining order ran out. No, it was just cash, money will do it."
The duo, who apparently bagged $35 million paychecks for the film, insisted on a full-blown theatrical release.
Brad Pitt and George Clooney's 'Wolfs' becomes most expensive TV movie at $200 million
Originally planned for a wider cinema debut, 'Wolfs' will now only be available in US theaters for a week before becoming available for streaming on Apple TV.
The film, which reportedly cost up to $200 million, is the most expensive TV film ever made.
While George expressed disappointment over the change in release plans, he acknowledged the evolving landscape of film distribution.
He said, "We would have liked that, we wanted that, and Brad and I gave some of our salary back to do that. We have had some bumps along the way, and that happens."
George added, "It’s a bummer, of course it’s a bummer. We would have liked that, we wanted that, and Brad and I gave some of our salary back to do that."
Nonetheless, he remains optimistic, noting the importance of finding a balance between traditional studios and streaming platforms.
'Wolfs' stands out in the crime thriller genre by offering a fresh take on traditional Hollywood masculinity.
Amid the car chases, shootouts, and typical genre excitement, Jon Watts' 'Wolfs' explores themes of aging, identity, and the evolution of male archetypes.
