As many of you know, George Clooney is not just a talented actor, but also a very skilled director. Clooney was nominated for Best Director at the Academy Awards for Good Night, and Good Luck, but it was his debut – Confessions of a Dangerous Mind – that I thought was much more enjoyable. Now, he’s setting up his third directorial film: Farragut North, based on a stage play about a political campaign and the corruption and tricks that go along with it. Hit the jump for more information, including Clooney’s hopes for his cast.

Clooney has his eye on Star Trek‘s Chris Pine for the lead role of Stephen Myers, a young press secretary/spin control expert for a presidential campaign as he plays dirty to secure his boss the nomination. Leonardo DiCaprio was once in talks for the part, but after dropping out, Pine seems the next logical choice; he recently starred in a Los Angeles performance of the play on which the film is based.

Brad Pitt was also once attached to the project, but he and Leo must be having a meeting of the Busiest Guys in Hollywood Club; Pitt probably won’t be able to fit the project into his schedule. Enter Philip Seymour Hoffman as a replacement in the role of Myers’ boss on the campaign trail. Paul Giamatti has joined as the rival political party campaign manager, and offers are also out to Evan Rachel Wood and Marisa Tomei in supporting roles.

Sounds like a compelling story and a fantastic cast – count me in. What do you all think? Are you on board with Clooney as a director, and does Farragut North sound appealing to you?

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With Watchmen getting closer to it’s release date, director Zack Snyder is setting up his next movie, Sucker Punch. Amanda Seyfried (Mama Mia), Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical), Abbie Cornish (Stop-Loss), Evan Rachel Wood (The Wrestler), and Emma Stone (Superbad) are in talks to join the all-female cast.

From THR:

Set in the 1950s, “Punch” follows a girl who is confined to a mental institution by her stepfather, who intends to have her lobotomized in five days. While there, she imagines an alternative reality to hide her from the pain, and in that world, she begins planning her escape, needing to steal five objects to help get her out before she is deflowered by a vile man.

Seyfried would play Babydoll, the institutionalized girl. If deals are completed, the rest would play Seyfried’s fellow inmates who also travel into the alternate reality. Hudgens would play a character named Blondie, Cornish would play Sweet Pea, and Wood would play Rocket.

Snyder, who co-wrote the script with Steve Shibuya, has described the fantasy world as ” ‘Alice in Wonderland’ with machine guns,” blending such elements as dragons, B-52 bombers and brothels.

Sucker Punch has a release date of October 2010, however filming schedules are still being sorted out.

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