George Clooney‘s newest directorial effort, Ides Of March, was just announced to open the Venice Film Festival. The film is loosely based on Beau Williams‘ play Farragut North on the 2004 Democratic primary and one of its candidates Howard Dean. Clooney looks to have another big year, directing and starring in this picture along with Alexander Payne‘s The Descendants. Ides des Of March also stars Ryan Gosling, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei, Jeffrey Wright, Max Minghella and Evan Rachel Wood, and will go wide on October 7th—just before Oscar season.