Entertainment

George Clooney’s Catch-22 adaptation to air in the UK

Clooney will play training commander Scheisskopf in the drama.
Clooney will play training commander Scheisskopf in the drama. Clooney will play training commander Scheisskopf in the drama.

George Clooney’s adaptation of Catch-22 is to air on Channel 4 in the UK.

The six-part series based on Joseph Heller’s 1961 novel will be screened on the channel next year.

Executive produced, directed by and co-starring Clooney, the drama follows Captain John Yossarian (Christopher Abbott), a US air force soldier in World War II who can not understand why thousands of people who have never met him want to kill him.

Yossarian, driven half-mad by his will to live, wants to complete his service and leave, but his efforts are blocked by Catch-22.

The ridiculous bureaucratic rule states that pilots don’t have to fly if they are certified insane, but 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. 

Clooney will play Scheisskopf, a training commander based at the cadet school in California.

“I’m very excited to be working with Channel 4 to bring the classic Catch-22 to their channel,” he said.

“I couldn’t think of a better place to be doing this.”

Kyle Chandler and Hugh Laurie also star in the Hulu drama, with further cast to be announced. 

Hugh Laurie
Hugh Laurie Hugh Laurie (PA)

Channel 4 director of programmes Ian Katz said: “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.

“David Michod 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.”

The series is set to air on Channel 4 in 2019.