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George Clooney
'Escape' marks a return to the well for Clooney, who tackled CIA territory in both 'Syriana,' for which he won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 2005, and 'Confessions of a Dangerous Mind,' his directorial debut following the alleged shady CIA exploits of game show host CHUCK BARRIS.
George Clooney is to co-write a comedy drama based on a CIA plot to smuggle six Americans out of Tehran during the 1979 hostage crisis through the creation of a fake film project.
Inspired by Joshuah Berman's article in the current issue of Wired magazine, Clooney will pen the script with his 'Good Night, and Good Luck' co-writer Grant Heslov.
The unusual operation began when CIA operative Tony Mendez was charged with the task of rescuing six Americans from Tehran. He teamed up with Hollywood make-up artists John Chambers and Bob Sidell to create a bogus film project to be shot in Iran, and so convincing were their endeavours that both Variety and the Hollywood Reporter wrote stories about the project.
Mendez then travelled to Tehran and having found the Americans, told them to pretend they were Canadians on a scouting trip for the film. The result? Mendez and all six men made it back to the States alive and well.
While only in the early stages of development at present, 'Escape from Tehran' is also a potential directing and starring vehicle for Clooney (unless this announcement turns out to be a rouse too).
If you haven't already, you must read Joshuah Bearman's new Wired article about the 1980 hostage rescue involving the creation of a fake sci-fi movie. Here, I'll sum it up quickly: after the CIA and two makeup artists came up with a non-existent movie (it seemed so real that it had the trades fooled), an operative named Tony Mendez traveled to Iran under the guise of the production in order to sneak out six American hostages. And yes, it worked. Well, it didn't take long for a studio to realize the now-unclassified story would make a perfect non-non-existent movie. Warner Bros. has bought the rights to the article and has tapped none other than George Clooney and Grant Heslov to write the screenplay.
The last film Clooney and Heslov wrote together was Good Night, and Good Luck, for which they received Oscar nominations. And considering the fact that Clooney has worked with CIA subject matter before, with his directorial debut, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, and with his Oscar-winning performance in Syriana, the man seems fully qualified. Hopefully Clooney will also direct the film, which will be called Escape From Tehran, or at least appear in it. It would also be perfect if the project, labeled a dramedy, could employ the two makeup artists, but unfortunately one of them is no longer alive. John Chambers, who won an Honorary Academy Award in 1969 for his work on Planet of the Apes, died in 2001. However, his partner on the mission, Robert Sidell, who went on to do the makeup for E.T., may be able to contribute somehow.
Escape From Tehran reminds me of two other films, Wag the Dog and The Last Shot, but it will likely be good enough to make me forget both (especially the latter). The only thing I ask for is a title change. Right now it sounds like it should feature Kurt Russell as Snake Plisskin, or worse, it could confuse people if it comes out anytime close to the Escape from New York remake. Here is my suggestion, which will associate it better with Clooney's and Heslov's work: You May Proceed. Good Luck. Okay, it isn't actually a better title, but if you read the article (do it!), my idea will at least make sense.
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