George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio May Head 'North' 'Farragut North' is written Beau Willimon October 11, 2007 Warner Bros. is hoping to pair up George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio for the political thriller "Farragut North." The slowly mobilizing film is based on the play by Beau Willimon, a play that won't actually open on Broadway until next fall. According to the industry trade papers, Clooney and DiCaprio are currently only in discussions. Were the two politically conscious stars to sign on for "Farragut North," Clooney would direct and produce, while DiCaprio would star and produce. "Farragut North" stirred up some buzz this summer when Willimon held readings of the play featuring Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead role as a young communications officer who goes to work for an unorthodox presidential candidate only to have his idealism stripped away. Based loosely on Willimon's experience working on the Dean campaign in 2004, the Broadway version of "Farragut North" (the title refers to a Washington, D.C. Metro stop) will be directed by Mike Nichols. There's some question as to when either busy actor would be able to get around to making this movie. Clooney's latest acting gig, "Michael Clayton," is earning rave reviews in limited release, while he continues to work on his latest directing project, "Leatherheads," which was recently bumped to an April 2008 release. Clooney is expected to star in "White Jazz" next, though the busy Oscar winner has been circling several other films. DiCaprio, meanwhile, has finished work with Kate Winslet and director Sam Mendes on "Revolutionary Road." He's currently shooting "Body of Lies" with Russell Crowe and director Ridley Scott.

Lead Actor George Clooney, Michael Clayton Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd Tommy Lee Jones, In the Valley of Elah Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises

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George Clooney Monkeys Around with 'Goats' Clooney's Oscar nominated screenwriting partner Grant Heslov will direct May 16, 2008 George Clooney will star in an adaptation of Jon Ronson's "Men Who Stare at Goats." According to Variety, the project will be directed by Clooney's Smoke House and writing partner Grant Heslov. Ronson, a British journalist, published his allegedly non-fiction book in 2006 focusing on the United States military's explorations into using people with paranormal powers as weapons in war. The title refers to one experiment in which psychics were asked to kill goats merely by staring at them. The book has been adapted by Peter Straughan ("How to Lose Friends and Alienate People") and has, according to the trade paper, been bouncing around the industry for some time. It's unclear how a narrative has been built out of Ronson's anecdotal book, or what role Clooney will play. Financing for the film is currently underway. Clooney most recently directed and starred in "Leatherheads," which was a spring box office disappointment. He picked up an Oscar nomination for last fall's "Michael Clayton." He'll next be seen in the fall release "Burn After Reading."

George Clooney May Become a 'Tourist' Busy actor linked to spy thriller June 12, 2008 Olen Steinhauer's novel "The Tourist" is the latest property being developed as a potential star vehicle for George Clooney. The industry trade papers seem to announce at least one Clooney-based rumor per week and this week's appears to involve "The Tourist," which is set up at Warner Brothers with Anthony Peckham ("Human Factor") recruited to shape the script. Clooney would produce along with Smokehouse regulars Grant Heslov and Nina Wolarsky, according to Variety. "The Tourist" focuses on an international spy trying to clear his name after he's accused of murder. Clooney most recently directed and starred in the spring box office disappointment "Leatherheads." He'll next appear in "Burn After Reading." From there, his schedule gets fuzzy since he's been attached to a wide range of nebulous options including "Men Who Stare at Goats," "Our Brand Is Crisis," "Farragut North" and others.

George Clooney is a Tantalizing Tourist Fri, 13 June 2008 at 9:13 am Newly single George Clooney takes a boat ride with a guy pal around his villa at Lake Como, Italy on Thursday. The Oscar winner has signed on to star in the contemporary spy thriller The Tourist, a big-screen adaptation of the best-selling Olen Steinhauer novel. Clooney would produce along with Smokehouse regulars Grant Heslov and Nina Wolarsky, according to Variety. Acquired by WB in the fall, The Tourist is a contemporary international thriller about a spy who risks everything to reveal a conspiracy after he’s accused of a murder he didn’t commit.

George Clooney Detains 'Challenge' Project focuses on the trial of Salim Hamdan August 13, 2008 George Clooney is getting politically charged again. The outspoken actor has bought the rights to Jonathan Mahler's legal thriller "The Challenge," which centers on the attempts to ensure a fair trial for Osama bin Laden's bodyguard/driver Salim Hamdan, reports Variety. Clooney and Grant Heslov's Smoke House banner will develop the project, which may be a writing, directing and starring vehicle for Clooney. On Aug. 7, the Yemeni-born Hamdan was sentenced by a panel of military officers at Guantanamo Bay to a prison term of 66 months, including time already served. Although he was found guilty of material support for terrorism, he was cleared of the more serious charges of conspiracy to commit murder. Smoke House also has other politically charged projects in the works, including "Escape From Tehran," "Men Who Stare at Goats" and "Our Brand Is Crisis."

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MO-JO! MO-JO!

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I tried to climb your steps, I tried to chase you down, I tried to see how low I could down to the ground, I tried to earn my way, I tried to change this mind, you better believe that I am trying to beat this•Now and again we try to just stay alive•Two weeks and you ran away.•

George Clooney's Future 'Up in the Air' Oscar-winning actor may team up with Jason Reitman on the literary adaptation. August 28, 2008 George Clooney is reportedly in talks to star in the dark corporate comedy "Up in the Air." Based on the 2001 novel by Walter Kirn, "Up in the Air" focuses on a professional downsizer whose true dream is the accumulation of a million frequent flier miles. The trades say that Jason Reitman ("Thank You For Smoking") adapted the book and will direct for Montecito Picture Co. and DreamWorks. Depending on Clooney's commitment and availability, "Up in the Air" could be Reitman's directorial follow-up to his Oscar nominated work on "Juno." He most recently produced the horror-comedy "Jennifer's Body," written by Diablo Cody. Most recently seen in "Leatherheads" and "Michael Clayton," Clooney has the Coen Brothers' "Burn After Reading" opening next month. He's also voicing the main character in Wes Anderson's upcoming "The Fantastic Mr. Fox." He's been attached to more than a half-dozen upcoming projects as actor, director or producer, so his specific calendar is notoriously hard to predict.