Sandra Bullock Nabs Role in George Clooney’s ‘Our Brand Is Crisis’

This film has been in the works forever and ever it seems.  Ok, since 2007.  It's still on the list of future Clooney films, with a projected opening in 2013 so who knows?  

It's a  comedy  / drama  feature film based on the documentary "Our Brand Is Crisis", which focuses on the use of American political campaign strategies in South America.

George is credited as both writer and the star, produced by Grant Heslov.   I think it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume George may be directing this too.

From thefilmstage.com

Besides the upcoming The Ides of March, director/star George Clooney and writer/producer Grant Heslov‘s company, Smoke House, has an interesting mixed bag of projects in their pipeline. The Playlist sat down with the latter to go over their current slate, which will most likely see Our Brand Is Crisis coming next.

Based on Rachel Boynton‘s documentary chronicling the involvement of James Carville‘s political consulting firm in the 2002 Bolivian presidential election. Heslov says that this is the project most likely on deck:

"It’s something that we’re probably going to put up next. It’s at Warner Bros. and I’m just trying to figure out who’s going to direct. We’re going to make that one. It’s a really great script. For Smoke House, I would say ‘Our Brand is Crisis’ [is next]. We’ll definitely be producers on it, but what other role we would play I don’t know at this point. Right now it’s just a great script.”

If Heslov and Clooney go the way of their underrated The Men Who Stare At Goats, Crisis should end up in entertaining dark comedy territory.

The other Smoke House projects on the horizon are no less interesting. Heslov is producing Ben Affleck‘s currently-shooting third directorial effort, Argo, which is based on the true story of how the C.I.A. tried to rescue a group of diplomats from Tehran following the 1979 Iranian Revolution while under the guise of a Hollywood film crew in Iran to shoot a sci-fi flick. And how’s that one going?

“It’s going great. We’re on the set, it’s an amazing story. Some of the people who were the hostages that actually escaped the embassy were visiting us today; some of the people the story is based on. I’m on set every day unless I have to go do a press day for “‘Ides.’”

He’s also got the Aaron Sorkin-scripted Hamdan vs. Rumsfeld, which is about Osama Bin Laden‘s chauffeur and how his incarceration in Guantanamo Bay (and subsequent lawsuit) exposed the inhumane conditions at the penitentiary. Clooney was apparently set to both direct and play the role of Hamdan’s slick lawyer, Charles Swift, but Matt Damon may be taking the role instead. The project is now hung up in some stage of development.

We heard earlier this year that Clooney would lead Monster of Florence, playing David Preston (whose book is the basis for the film), a writer who teams with local crime reporter Mario Spezi and attempts to solve a 30-year-old murder mystery that’s been haunting Florence, Italy. Originally a Tom Cruise-starrer, the current incarnation of the project is being written by Christopher McQuarrie, with Heslov saying that he’s “just waiting on a draft.”

These all sound pretty good, but I’m looking forward to Argo and Monster of Florence for real meat.

Read Monster of Florence. Great book, would make a truly suspenseful movie.

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Our Brand is Crisis

In Movie Theaters: TBA, 2012

Producer: George Clooney

Screenwriter: Peter Straughan

Starring: tba

Produced by: Smoke House Pictures

Genres: Drama Political

Synopsis: The original documentary was a behind-the-scenes look at the Bolivian presidential election of 2002, when candidate Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada (aka Goni) hired James Carville's Washington-based political consulting firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner to help him win. Goni's poll numbers were dismal, with Bolivians accusing him of being too closely aligned with U.S. interests. Employing the same tactics they do in the U.S., Carville -- who himself flew in -- and his team used focus groups, sloganeering and smear tactics. Goni won by a narrow margin, but the work had only just begun for Carville's team. Bolivia descended into crisis under Goni's rule, and he was ultimately forced to resign.

Additional Notes: Based on Rachel Boynton's political documentary. Screenwriter Peter Straughan will adapt the story, reimagining the original -- about the dangers of "exporting" American democracy -- as a dark comedy. George Clooney may possibly direct and/or star (05/25/07).

I've read Straughan's script. It's good, but unfocused. I would guess the project is still in development because the script needed a lot of work, IMO, and it looks like Clooney and Heslov have their hands full with a gazillion other things. But it's a great story -- something you can count on with this team.

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{TB EXCLUSIVE} Sandra Bullock Replaces George Clooney In “Our Brand Is Crisis”

November 26, 2013


By: James Silverwolfe

The long gestating political comedy OUR BRAND IS CRISIS is slowly building some steam. Based on the 2005 documentary by Rachel Boynton, the story follows a political consultant who goes to South America to help with the local election and realizes how corrupt it really is.

George Clooney was previously attached to star but it appears he’s passed the mantle onto his “Gravity” buddy Sandra Bullock, which means the role will be changed to a female lead. The first thing that comes to my mind is “Veep” and if the movie has even the tiniest bit of charm that comedy has, than we’ll be in business. I wouldn’t be surprised if Clooney ended up playing a small role though.

Peter Straughan (“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”) wrote the script that Clooney and Grant Heslov will produce. No director has been set at this time.

From “The Heat” to “Gravity”, it’s been a pretty great year to be Bullock. She’s currently doing voice work for the upcoming “Despicable Me” spin-off “Minions.”

She is repped by CAA.

Great find, Themi. Thank you!

My goodness, those boys at Smokehouse are certainly working hard........

They seem to be amping up their producing....I think it sounds interesting....

Mm, I'd love to know where they are with 'Enron'

They sure thrive on being busy don't they? I agree SG it does sound like a very interesting concept.

Yay, movement! I'm just moving this to the thread we have about this film.

Sorry Katie, I did a search but couldn't locate the correct thread

No worries - the search feature on this site is rubbish.

I would love love love to read the revision of the original screenplay.

Tracking it down just made my to-do list...

I have a list of about 15 possible future projects but this one I don't have. Must be slipping how I missed it. Must up date. Thanks xxx

For some reason this story is making the websites again today.

well, I like the name of it " Our Brand is crises". Good name.

LOL! Moving this to the films thread.

We had a thread set up for this already (will merge)

They could have altered the script to make the more idealistic political operative a woman.

I think Stanley Tucci would make a great 'Carville' character...

Yay.....good news !

Yep. He's certainly back at work!

Thanks Mazy, I just merged it with the existing thread. Thanks for the find.

Wonder when they really start working on it. It will be exiting year to see what is to come  

He's going to be a busy boy this year, isn't he?

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Films in Louisiana are BIG BUSINESS with top names in the industry now that the state is considered the state with the most filming worldwide.

Here is the “225.342.FILM”, which is the official hotline of Louisiana Entertainment. Here’s what’s happening as of the 2nd week in August 2014.

PRE-PRODUCTION

OUR BRAND IS CRISIS

Warner Bros. feature film Our Brand is Crisis starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney is filming September 29th in New Orleans. Please send resumes to [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Really already starting the end of September.... 

I really really hope that George will be onscreen again with his good mate Sandy !!

 

Getting confused again... all this work requires alot of his attention.  What is this doing to the wedding time table?  Wedding, honeymoon, rush back to get ready for projects?  That's a great deal of multitasking.