George Clooney denied he and Brad Pitt were each paid $35 million for 'Wolfs.' Here's why they had to return some of their pay.

• The New York Times reported George Clooney and Brad Pitt were each paid $35 million for "Wolfs."
• George Clooney said: "it's bad for our industry if that's what people think is the standard-bearer for salaries."
• Clooney said the actors had to return some of their salary because the film's release model changed.

George Clooney refuted a report that he and Brad Pitt were each paid $35 million for their new movie "Wolfs," and said the actual figure was "millions and millions and millions" less.

The pair have previously worked together on six films, including the "Oceans" franchise and the Coen brothers' "Burn After Reading."

They reunited for "Wolfs," which is directed by Jon Watts and follows two fixers used to working alone who have to collaborate on a job.

The action-comedy was slated for a typical theatrical release until Apple decided to show it in cinemas for one week from September 20, before streaming it on Apple TV+ from September 27.

At the Venice Film Festival "Wolfs" press conference on Sunday, Clooney addressed a New York Times report, citing its anonymous sources familiar with the film's development, that they were each paid $35 million for their roles.

"[It was] an interesting article, and whatever her source was for our salary, it is millions and millions and millions of dollars less than what was reported.

"And I am only saying that because I think it's bad for our industry if that's what people think is the standard-bearer for salaries. I think that's terrible, it'll make it impossible to make films," Clooney said, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

His comments are the latest example of A-listers being more open about their pay. Last month, Cate Blanchett said "no one got paid anything" for starring in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

Clooney confirmed at the press conference that both he and Pitt returned part of their salaries so that "Wolfs" could still get its limited theatrical release, Metro reported.

"Yeah, we would have liked that. We wanted it. That's why Brad and I gave some of our salary back to do that," Clooney said regarding the theatrical release.

He added: "It is a bummer of course, but on the other hand, a lot of people are going to see the film and we are getting a release in a few hundred theaters, so we're getting a release. But yeah, it would've been nice to have a wide release."