BEIJING, Aug. 31--"Ocean's Eleven" star George Clooney on Monday said he was taking on a new role-- hotelier-- in a planned US$3 billion resort, casino and condominium project in Las Vegas.

Clooney, whose movie and television roles have ranged from doctor to superhero to con man in the Las Vegas-based"Ocean's Eleven," will invest in a resort hotel, casino and condominium project near the Las Vegas Strip with nightclub owner Rande Gerber and two developers.

Hollywood actor George Clooney has invested an undisclosed sum of money in a casino and hotel resort in Las Vegas. The resort, to be called Las Ramblas, will be developed by Related Las Vegas and Centra Properties with Clooney and Gerber helping plan and design the hotel, restaurants, entertainment venues and casino, the groups said in a statement.

"We're clearly putting more than just our names to this project-- we're investing financially and creatively to develop an idyllic environment that reflects our personal tastes and interests," Clooney said.

He added that he and Gerber, who is married to model Cindy Crawford and operates clubs in New York and Los Angeles, hope to lure their Hollywood pals like Brad Pitt to Las Ramblas.

When completed, the resort will house more than 4,400 hotel and condominiums in 11 high-rise buildings. Construction is expected to begin in mid-2006 and the first four towers are expected to be completed in early 2008.

(Source: Shenzhen Daily/Agencis)