Though George Clooney rose to fame sporting the Caesar cut, he clearly takes no stock in the Shakespearean warning to the emperor: "Beware the Ides of March."  Upon recruiting partners --- Exclusive Media Group and Cross Creek Pictures --- to finance his adaptation of the Broadway play Farrugut North, Clooney tempted the fates by renaming the project The Ides of March.

But Clooney has plenty of talent on board to counteract the hex.  Namely, himself --- Clooney will write, direct, and star as a Democratic presidential candidate.  Variety confirms that Ryan Gosling will assume the lead, "a young press spokesman who falls prey to backroom politics;" Philip Seymour Hoffman has been cast as his veteran boss.  Paul Giamatti co-stars as a rival campaign manager, Marisa Tomei plays a New York Times reporter, and Evan Rachel Wood is on board as an intern for the campaign.  More, including the official synopsis for the play, after the jump.

Here's the synopsis for Farragut North, written by Beau Willimon:

Stephen is a wunderkind press secretary who has built a career that men twice his age would envy. During a tight presidential primary race, his meteoric rise falls prey to the backroom politics of more seasoned operatives, and his one night stand with a teenage staffer proves to be more complicated than casual.

This sounds fantastic.  I was a bigger fan of Leatherheads than most, but that film's critics must be pleased that Clooney is getting back into territory more relevant to Good Night, and Good Luck.  And Clooney as a presidential candidate?  Perfect casting.  I'd vote for him in 2012 if he ran.

In fact, great-sounding casting abounds.  Gosling as a fresh-faced up-and-comer?  Check.  Hoffman and Giamatti as grizzled veterans?  Yep.  Wood as a sultry intern?  Done.  Tomei as a hard-hitting journalist?  Umm... sure.  Not as much of a lock as the others, but I'll buy it.

The plan is to begin production in March.  Probably on the 15th.