George Clooney Stars in The American

George Clooney is a very, very busy man. In addition to promoting two films that are generating huge buzz - Up in the Air and The Men Who Stare at Goats - Clooney's just begun work on The American for director Anton Corbijn (Control). Focus Features announced production has begun in Italy on the suspense thriller adapted by Rowan Joffe from Martin Booth's A Very Private Gentleman novel.

Focus CEO James Schamus called the teaming of Corbijn and Clooney a "movie marriage made in heaven."

The Official The American Synopsis:
Alone among assassins, Jack (Clooney) is a master craftsman. When a job in Sweden ends more harshly than expected for this American abroad, he vows to his contact Larry (Bruce Altman) that his next assignment will be his last. Jack reports to the Italian countryside, where he holes up in a small town and relishes being away from death for a spell. The assignment, as specified by a Belgian woman, Mathilde (Thekla Reuten), is in the offing as a weapon is constructed. Surprising himself, Jack seeks out the friendship of local priest Father Benedetto (Paolo Bonacelli) and pursues romance with local woman Clara (Violante Placido). But by stepping out of the shadows, Jack may be tempting fate.

_{(Photo by Malcolm Taylor/Getty Images)}

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