WB & Clooney smoke out ‘The Tourist’

Continuing their love fest with George Clooney- Warner Bros has picked up the movie rights to The Tourist, an upcoming book by two time Edgar Award nominee Olen Steinhauer, for George Clooney and Grant Heslov to produce via their Smokehouse banner.

The book is described as an international thriller about a spy on the run after he's suspected of a murder he did not commit. Supposedly in the vein of John LeCarre and Graham Greene, the book was picked up in early manuscript form.

Smokehouse is the successor to Section 8, the company Clooney fronted with Steven Soderbergh. Films in production include the period football comedy Leatherheads for Universal, in which Clooney both stars and directs, and the upcoming White Jazz, an adaptation of the James Ellroy novel to be directed by Joe Carnahan. Smokehouse is also developing an adaptation of Beau Willimon's upcoming play Farragut North, rumored to be both a starring vehicle for Leonardo DiCaprio, and Clooney's next film as director once he's done with Leatherheads.

Clooney's definitely on a hot streak these days. While The Good German was a bit of a fiasco, he's riding high on the buzz from Michael Clayton. Let's also not forget he won as Oscar for 2005's Syrianna, and was nominated for his work behind the camera for Good Night and Good Luck– which came out that same year.

One of Clooney's greatest strengths is that he consistently chooses excellent material and seems focused on making good films for adults. He doesn't pander to the blockbuster crowd- with the notable exception of Ocean's 11, 12, & 13.

It can't be a coincidence that most of Clooney's films since Ocean's 11 have been distributed by Warner Bros. The studio seems keen on developing a relationship with Clooney similar to the one they enjoy with Clint Eastwood's Malpaso label.

The Tourist sounds like another winner for Clooney, and it would be nice to see another serious spy film- now that the Bourne series has concluded (for now).