Originally published January 16, 2018. Updated April 18, 2018.
Back in November it was announced that George Clooney is set to direct and star in a six-part TV adaptation of Joseph Heller’s seminal novel Catch-22, and now it has been revealed that streaming service Hulu has picked up the project with a series order.
Catch-22 follows the life of Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army Air Forces B-25 bombardier, and explores the experiences of Yossarian and his fellow airman as they attempt to maintain their sanity while fulfilling their service requirements so that they may return home. The title refers to a set of paradoxical requirements whereby airmen mentally unfit to fly missions did not have to do so, but those who applied to stop flying were said to be showing a rational concern for their safety and were therefore deemed to be sane and had to fly.
“Catch-22 is a rare story that has withstood the test of time, not only as a literary masterpiece, but as a story that still resonates in today’s political and social conversation,” said Hulu’s content chief Joel Stillerman. “These are exactly the types of stories we want to be programming at Hulu, and we couldn’t be happier to partner with George Clooney, Paramount TV and this phenomenal group of creatives to bring one of the most well-known books of all time to viewers in a way that has never been seen before.”
Clooney will take on the role of Colonel Cathcart, as well as directing the series and executive producing with his Smokehouse Pictures partner Grant Heslov. Production is slated to get underway this year.
