Though he never ended up directing it as originally planned, Argo worked out rather well for George Clooney. So you can see why he might leap at the chance to adapt another article by Joshuah Berman, the man who brought the Iran hostage rescue story to light.
Clooney and producing partner Grant Heslov are now aiming to work up a film based on Bearman’s investigation into the Coronado Club. The article has not been published, but the filmmakers have clearly gotten an early peek at the piece, which apparently involves a group of young people being employed as drug smugglers.
Sony – which is backing Clooney and Heslov’s current project, World War II art heist film **The Monuments Men **– is in talks to develop the film as a directing project for the Cloonester. Though if it follows the same route as his last collaboration with Bearman, Ben Affleck will end up directing and Oscar will come calling. For now, however, it’s still an embryonic film with no writer or casting announced.
The Monuments Men, with Clooney both in front of and behind the camera, won’t be with us until January next year. But he’ll be seen in Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity (out October 18) and is set to work on Tomorrowland for Brad Bird and Disney.