BERLIN (AP) — Actor George Clooney says he plans to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss the situation in Syria, which has contributed to the surge in refugees coming to Europe over the past year.

Clooney told reporters at the Berlin Film Festival on Thursday that the movie industry is sometimes slow to react to events in the news.

The Hollywood star was asked whether he plans to make a sequel to his 2005 political thriller "Syriana" that would reflect the turmoil that has shaken the Middle East since then.

Clooney said telling those stories would be "tough" but necessary.

Clooney said he will meet with Merkel on Friday to ask "what messages and what things we can do and the things that we can help with."