Channel 4 Release “First Look” Images Of George Clooney’s ‘Catch 22’ Adaptation
Channel 4 has released some “first look” images of the much anticipated six-part drama series ‘Catch-22‘ executive produced, directed and co-starring George Clooney.
Based on the celebrated novel by Joseph Heller, ‘Catch-22’ follows the story of Captain John Yossarian (Christopher Abbott – ‘Girls’), a US air force soldier in World War II who can’t understand why thousands of people who have never met him want to kill him. Yossarian is a rebellious and fearful anti-hero, who is trying to survive the war against the odds. Desperate to impress his superiors, Colonel Cathcart (Kyle Chandler – ‘Bloodline’) keeps raising the numbers of the missions his men have to fly. Yossarian is driven half-mad by his will to live. He wants to complete his service and leave, but his efforts are blocked by Catch-22; a ridiculous bureaucratic rule which states that pilots don’t have to fly if they are certified insane, but unfortunately for the men the same rule also states that being driven mad by fear is a rational emotion, which therefore means the individual is sane and able to carry on with the mission.
The cast includes Christopher Abbott (Yossarian), Kyle Chandler (Colonel Cathcart), George Clooney (Scheisskopf), Hugh Laurie (Major de Coverley), Giancarlo Giannini (Marcello), Daniel David Stewart (Milo), Rafi Gavron (Aarfy), Austin Stowell (Nately), Graham Patrick Martin (Orr), Gerran Howell (Kid Sampson), Jon Rudnitsky (McWatt), Kevin J. O’Connor (Korn), Pico Alexander (Clevinger), Tessa Ferrer (Nurse Duckett), Lewis Pullman (Major Major), Josh Bolt (Dunbar), Jay Paulson (Chaplain) and Julie Ann Emery (Marion).
Catch-22 — Episode 101 — Yossarian and his friends train to be flyers in California before being shipped to an Army Air Force base on the Italian island of Pianosa. Nineteen perilous missions later, Yossarianís only hope is to meet the mission quota ñ twenty-five ñ and be sent home before heís shot down. But a new Colonel (Cathcart) takes command and immediately raises the mission quota. Yossarian realizes he has to get himself grounded or sent home by any means necessary. Major de Coverley (Hugh Laurie), Milo (Daniel David Stewart) shown. (Photo by: Philipe Antonello / Hulu)
‘Catch-22’ is executive produced by George Clooney and Grant Heslov (‘Argo’, ‘The Monuments Men’) on behalf of Smokehouse Pictures, along with Richard Brown and Steve Golin on behalf of Anonymous Content. Luke Davies (‘Beautiful Boy’, ‘Lion’) and David Michôd (‘Animal Kingdom’, ‘War Machine’) are co-writers and executive producers for the series. Clooney is set to direct along with Heslov and Ellen Kuras (‘The Umbrella Academy’, ‘Legion’, ‘Ozark’), with each directed two episodes.
“It’s hard to imagine a work that speaks more directly to the frequently absurd times we live in, and to the growing sense of individual distrust of institutions, than Catch-22,” comments Ian Katz, Director of Programmes, Channel 4. “David Michôd and Luke Davies have produced a script that crackles with irony, anger and humanity. I’m thrilled that it will be a part of our stellar 2019 drama offer.”
‘Catch-22‘ will premiere in 2019 on Channel 4 in the UK.
