FAQ for
Three Kings (1999)

Yes. The incident was the result of a heated animosity between Clooney and Russell coming to a head.

George Clooney claims a fight started between he and Russell after he had witnessed the director shove an extra to the ground. Clooney had previously confronted Russell over his alleged harsh behavior towards extras on set, including ignoring a woman who suffered a seizure while he set up a shot. However, some witnesses claim that Russell was actually demonstrating how he wanted someone to be thrown to the ground in rehearsal, and that Clooney had blown the incident out of proportion.

These incidences are further chronicled in the book "Rebels on the Backlot" by Sharon Waxman.