George Clooney to star in Jodie Foster film 'Money Monster'

LOS ANGELES, July 29 (UPI) -- George Clooney has joined the cast of Money Monster.

The 53-year-old actor will star as Lee Gates, a television host who provides financial advice on his show, Money Monster. Gates is taken hostage on air by a man who lost everything on a bad tip, and must turn the person's investment around in order to keep himself alive. He discovers a web of tangled secrets and a possible scandal, and ratings soar as viewers tune in to the crisis.

The film is directed by Jodie Foster, who recently directed two episodes of Netflix series Orange is the New Black. The actress has been nominated for an Emmy for directing "Lesbian Request Denied," the third episode of the show's debut season.

"I couldn't be more thrilled to start our Money Monster adventure alongside such a talented and passionate team," Foster said in a statement. "[Chairman] Tom Rothman and TriStar really get the movie and are the best cheerleaders our filmmaking team could hope for."

Money Monster is scheduled for release in 2015.