Clooney plans 'Escape from Tehran'

George Clooney is to co-write an unbelievable CIA story which proves that truth is stranger than fiction.

May  3 2007

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).