When September began, we reported that George Clooney was wanting Chris Pine to star in his latest directorial endeavor, Farragut North, based on the off-Broadway play. Since Pine had played the character in a L.A. stage production he seemed to be a venerable shoe-in. But close to a month later, it looks like Clooney’s been negotiating for Oscar nominee Ryan Gosling (Half Nelson) to play the lead role of a young communications director who works for a fast rising presidential candidate. During the course of Howard Dean’s 2004 presidential campaign, the idealistic young man falls prey to the backstabbing and other dirty trickery of more seasoned rivals.
Prior to Chris Pine’s name being mentioned, Leonardo DiCaprio had also eyed the role when Warner Bros. first optioned Beau Willimon’s play two years ago. Gosling’s stock is rising after Half Nelson and another Oscar nomination could be his if the buzz for Blue Valentine is to be believed. Both he and Michelle Williams are getting a lot of attention for the film, which The Weinstein Company will release in late December. And if Clooney can manage to get the other names mentioned in the cast list then Farragut North will be one to keep an eye on for 2011 or 2012.
