George Clooney Set To Direct Political Drama Farragut North

Rumour has been circulating for several years of George Clooney's desire to direct a film version of Beau Willimon's play Farragut North. According to Vulture it seems his plan has reached the financing stage with a tentative cast of Chris Pine, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Giamatti and plans of a February shoot.

The play itself is loosely based on Howard Dean’s unsuccessful campaign for the democratic nomination for president in 2004, and follows the story of a young and sucessful political whizz-kid Stephen Meyers. Originally offered to Leonardo DiCaprio it now appears Chris Pine is set to reprise his role from the LA stage production. Meyers, an accomplished press secretary is convinced he can lead his candidate to success only to discover a world of corruption and political manipulation. Hoffman and Giamatti are set to play Meyers' boss and the opposing campaign manager respectively and according to Vulture, roles have been offered to Evan Rachel Wood to play Meyers's love interest and Marisa Tomei as an investigative journalist.

Clooney - who has directed three films to date - has previous form in political dramas having received two Oscar nominations (Directing and Original Screenplay) for Good Night, And Good Luck, a critically lauded period piece dealing with the tricky relationship between politics, journalism and corruption in the McCarthy era.

Fans of GNAGL will be pleased to hear that Clooney, a self-described liberal, is sticking with the big screen despite recent gossip that he might be tempted to run for office himself ("Run for office? No. I've slept with too many women, I've done too many drugs, and I've been to too many parties.") - but what you think. Let us know, as ever, in the comments box below.

Source: Screenrush