George Clooney Drops Out Of Steven Soderbergh Film

George Clooney, 50, is a man who knows his limits. The Oscar-winning actor is reportedly pulling out of Ocean's Eleven director and close friend Steven Soderbergh's next film, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., an adapatation of the 1960s television series.

"He said he just can't do the action and stunt scenes," a source from the movie told E! Online in a story first reported by Deadline. Clooney famously injured his back during a particularly intense torture scene in Syriana, the film that nabbed him his Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. "In fact," not only is Clooney opting out of the stunt-heavy film, but he may be "planning on having another operation during the time he would have been filming," the source revealed.

Neither Clooney nor Soderbergh have commented on the actor's decision, but the insider reveals that Clooney "knows he's just not up to it. That's what this is about. It's nothing to do with Steven." So far production is still on track to begin in February 2012.

This doesn't mean that Clooney has decided to drop off the radar, however. He will be premiering The Ides of March, a political thriller he wrote, directed, and starred in opposite actor Ryan Gosling, this fall. Soderbergh is currently preparing to debut his next film, Contagion with Matt Damon and Gwyneth Paltrow, which hits theaters September 9.