Director Steven Soderbergh is retiring from the film business to become a full-time artist. Yeah - and Joaquin Phoenix is really a rapper.
Amazingly, Soderbergh's change of career seems to be true. An interview he gave to The New York Times from his painting studio in Manhattan confirms that the Contagion director is hanging up his megaphone and swapping it for a paintbrush.
Rumours started when Matt Damon revealed in a 2010 interview that Soderbergh was quitting the business they call show.
Then back in March this year Soderbergh all but confirmed it when he said he had only two more movies to shoot - Liberace starring Matt Damon and Michael Douglas and Man From U.N.C.L.E. starring George Clooney.
"That's a great way to sort of step off," he said at the time, although he's since pulled out of Man From U.N.C.L.E.
So is he gone for good?
"I'm interested in exploring another art form while I have the time and ability to do so. I'll be the first person to say if I can't be any good at it and run out of money I'll be back making another Ocean's movie," Soderbergh told The New York Times.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Are we losing a great director if Steven Soderbergh heads off to paint? Are there any other directors you'd like to see give up filmmaking and take up one of their other pursuits? Tell us below!
Comments
Bajumeru
Aug 31st 2011, 15:44
I've only seen a couple of his movies, so it's not that big of a loss, at least for me. Ocean's Eleven was good, though!
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Ali1748
Aug 31st 2011, 16:12
Yawn.
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5thghostbuster
Aug 31st 2011, 20:30
Surely this is a marketing ploy for Contagion, which from the trailers looks like it could use all the publicity it can get?
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FBALee
Sep 1st 2011, 1:27
I'm not too worked up over this news flash. Now, Amanda Bynes deciding to quit acting was a real tragic loss for film. Heavy on the sarcasm there.
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