Clooney casts his next film with Gosling

(AFP PHOTO DAMIEN MEYER)

Actor George Clooney has finalized the set-up for his fourth directorial effort with The Ides of March, in which he will also star.

The film is based on the play Farragut North by Beau Willimon, about the author's experience on a political campaign trail. In the play's off-Broadway production, Sex and the City's Chris Noth played the role Clooney will take, Governor Morris.

Ryan Gosling ( The Notebook and upcoming Blue Valentine with Michelle Williams) is set to star in the role of the press spokesman, which was played by Star Trek's Chris Pine in a later production of the play in Los Angeles.

Among other actors cast in the film, Paul Giamatti ( Duplicity) portrays a rival campaign leader, Marisa Tomei ( The Wrestler) plays a journalist, and Evan Rachel Wood ( Across the Universe) plays an intern.

Described as a tale of sex, ambition, loyalty, betrayal and revenge, The Ides of March is set to shoot in February 2011. Clooney's company will co-produce with Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way.

Clooney's next film role is in The Descendents, which follows a Hawaiian land owner who re-connects with his daughters after the loss of his wife. It is directed by Alexander Payne ( Sideways).

RC