Production is currently underway in Germany on George Clooney’s next directorial feature, the WWII drama The Monuments Men, and some new images of the star-studded cast on set have surfaced. Based on a true story, the pic centers on an unlikely World War II platoon made up of museum directors, curators, and art historians tasked by FDR with going into Germany and rescuing artistic masterpieces from Nazi thieves before they are lost forever. These set photos give us a look at Bill Murray, Matt Damon, John Goodman, Jean Dujardin, Hugh Bonneville, and Clooney all in character, along with what looks to be a cameo by composer Alexandre Desplat. This is absolutely one of my most anticipated films of the year, and I can’t wait to see the ensemble’s interplay when the film hits theaters.
Hit the jump to check out the images. The film also stars Cate Blanchett and Bob Balaban. The Monuments Men opens on December 18th.
Here’s the official synopsis for The Monuments Men:
Based on the true story of the greatest treasure hunt in history, The Monuments Men focuses on an unlikely World War II platoon, tasked by FDR with going into Germany to rescue artistic masterpieces from Nazi thieves and returning them to their rightful owners. It would be an impossible mission: with the art trapped behind enemy lines, and with the German army under orders to destroy everything as the Reich fell, how could these guys – seven museum directors, curators, and art historians, all more familiar with Michelangelo than the M-1 – possibly hope to succeed? But as the Monuments Men, as they were called, found themselves in a race against time to avoid the destruction of 1000 years of culture, they would risk their lives to protect and defend mankind’s greatest achievements.