George Clooney’s runs for president in The Ides Of March, his latest directorial effort (which he also stars in).

To celebrate, we sat down for an exclusive chat with the man himself so that he could talk us through the most significant movies on his CV.

He spoke frankly about his role in Joel Schumacher’s franchise-derailer Batman & Robin, telling us, “It was a difficult film to be good in.”

Here’s what he had to say about his experience on the superhero misfire:

“With hindsight it’s easy to look back at this and go ‘Woah, that was really shit and I was really bad in it.’

“The truth is, my phone rang, and the head of Warner Bros said ‘Come into my office, you are going to play Batman in a Batman film’ and I said ‘Yeah!’ I called my friends and they screamed and I screamed and we couldn’t believe it!

“I just thought the last one had been successful so I thought I was just going to be in a big successful franchise movie.

“In a weird way I was. Batman is still the biggest break I ever had and it completely changed my career, even if it was weak and I was weak in it. It was a difficult film to be good in. I don’t know what I could have done differently.

“But if I am going to be Batman in the film Batman & Robin, I can’t say it didn’t work and then not take some of the blame for that.”

On directing himself in The Ides Of March, Clooney said, “I chose to play governor Mike Morris because I knew what I wanted the candidate to do and be. I also seemed right for the age of the character.

“It’s not something I want to do in real life, but it’s something that I knew I could do a portion of in this film. Directing yourself is not a fun thing to do though! All I’m considering, all I’m thinking about while speaking, is that I can feel the camera moving and I know it’s moving too soon and I’m going to have to do it again.”

The Ides Of March opens on 28 October 2011.

For more from George Clooney, get the new issue of Total Film Magazine, which hits newsstands tomorrow!

To subscribe to Total Film Magazine, click here.

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Last year, we told you that Gavin Hood (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) had been tapped by Odd Lot Entertainment to rewrite and develop the big-screen adaptation of Orson Scott Card‘s Hugo and Nebula award-winning novel, Ender’s Game. Then, back in February, screenwriters Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (Cowboys & Aliens, Star Trek) revealed that they had been assisting Hood with the script and shopping it around Hollywood.

Now, io9 seems to have gotten their hands on a casting call for the big-screen adaptation of Orson Scott Card’s classic novel. The characters listed in the casting call are Ender Wiggin, Ender’s brother Peter Wiggin, his sister Valentine Wiggin, Ender’s bully Bonzo Madrid, Commander of the Rat Army, Rose the Nose; Ender’s friends Dink Meeker, Petra Arkanian, Bean and Alai, and Mick, who is listed as “a heavyset boy who just wants to make it through this school in one piece and get home — and he’s happy to help himself to other people’s desserts“.

About Ender’s Game:

Set in Earth’s future, the novel presents an imperiled humankind who have barely survived two conflicts with the Formics (an insectoid alien race also known as the “Buggers”). In preparation for an anticipated third invasion, an international fleet maintains a school to find and train future fleet commanders. The world’s most talented children, including the novel’s protagonist, Ender Wiggin, are taken at a very young age to a training center known as the Battle School. There, teachers train them in the arts of war through increasingly difficult games including ones undertaken in zero gravity in the Battle Room where Ender’s tactical genius is revealed.

No production or release dates for Ender’s Game have been announced.

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The murder case took a major backseat to the relationships themselves on The Mentalist this week, as Patrick Jane maneuvered to get his old team back into place. What did you think of "Little Red Book?"

But enough of the past. Let's look ahead to "Little Red Balloon," an episode that finds Jane helping a friend whose son gets kidnapped. Is there more to the case, though?

Might Jane actually be getting conned? This CBS promo hints at that possibility:

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September 17. 6am. It’s an ungodly hour for anyone to be up, but this was a special Saturday for Walel Watson, a fight day unlike any other. Later in the afternoon, his childhood friend Robert Peralta, who he had known since they were in seventh grade, was about to make his UFC debut against Mike Lullo. It was almost like Watson was fighting, and in a way he was, through his buddy.

“It was so exciting,” said Watson. “I woke up so early that morning, and I was like ‘I can’t wait, I can’t wait.’”

After three rounds in New Orleans, Peralta’s first UFC fight resulted in his first UFC victory as he decisioned Lullo. Back in Southern California, Watson, 8-2 in his own pro mixed martial arts career, waited for his turn to do the same thing, and Saturday in Washington, D.C., he’ll get his chance against Joseph Sandoval. Hollywood couldn’t have scripted a better story.

“I know he (Peralta) has been doing it a little bit longer than me and I knew what it meant for both of us,” said Watson. “He played football too and he kinda went through the same thing of not being that big and all that. So I know what it meant for both of us to be professional athletes and fight in the best show in the world.”

A former wide receiver, cornerback and special teams returner in junior college, Watson always had ambitions of taking to the professional gridiron just like every kid who puts on the helmet and shoulder pads. And he was good. He just wasn’t big.

“When I played football, because of the gear and everything and sweating every single day, I never weighed more than 142, 143 pounds, and I played junior college and semi-pro that way, being the smallest guy on the field all the time,” said the 5-foot-11 Watson. And when National Signing Day rolled around and the phone didn’t ring, he knew that his dreams of playing in the NFL were over.

That’s when Peralta called his longtime friend.

“He knew that I was very interested in fighting and he was just getting started at that time, so he said ‘come check this out, come to the garage. I got a surprise for you,’” recalled Watson. “That was it. He got me into training and we were just hooked after that. We never stopped training after that.”

The year was 2008, and Watson and Peralta quickly outgrew the garage, where there weren’t any high-tech workout machines or amenities, but there were plenty of opportunities to prove whether you were cut out for getting punched in the face.

“It really did make you tough because it was almost like a fight club,” said Watson. “We didn’t really have any rules and we didn’t have a training regimen. We’d just come in, put on some gloves and we’re all just smashing each other. (Laughs) At that point, me and Robert realized that we really wanted to pursue this and get serious with it, and that’s when we had to break off from the whole garage thing. But it really did make us tough. There were a lot of people getting choked out, knocked out and all kinds of crazy things.”

Eventually winding up with different camps, Watson with Manolo Hernandez and Peralta with Xplode MMA, Johnny Hughes, and Jeff Clark, the two never lost touch with each other, texting or talking multiple times over the course of the week and even getting in some sparring time. Later in 2008, with Peralta already getting ready for his eighth pro fight, Watson made his debut with a submission loss to Enrique Cuellar. He wouldn’t return for another year, and when he did, finishing Peter Martinez in the second round, he was ready to make a run up the bantamweight ladder.

“I don’t want to sound cocky, but I felt like from the moment I started that I could really be something at this,” said the 27-year old Watson. “I don’t know if it’s just because I’ve been a competitor my entire life and I’m used to trying to be the best at everything I’ve done, but right away, from the day I stepped in there, I felt like I could be the best in the world at what I do, especially in my weight class.”

Earlier this year, the 8-2 Watson and the 14-3 Peralta got their calls to the big show. The subsequent phone call between the bantamweight and the featherweight went as you would expect.

“The first person I thanked was him because he gave me my start,” said Watson. “He invited me out to the garage three years ago and was the one who put my foot in the door. We’re always giving positive reinforcement to each other or talking about our training and giving tips to each other. We’re really good friends, and we don’t let anything get between that.”

Watson also gets some helpful hints from Strikeforce female contender Liz Carmouche, who has seen her share of the spotlight this year as well.

“We’re a real tight-knit family and we’re all pretty grounded,” said Watson of his team in San Diego. “None of us ever get too big-headed, and just seeing the way she (Carmouche) handles it, she’s real humble and she’ll be in here helping out anyway she can in the gym at anytime, whether it’s helping me spar or wiping the mats down, and I’m the same exact way. I don’t think any of us will ever change who we are.”

This weekend, things will change though, especially if he can turn back Sandoval and earn his first UFC win. And if you haven’t heard of Watson, a purple belt in jiu-jitsu who has finished all eight of his pro victories (seven by submission), he wants to make sure you know who he is on Sunday morning.

“I’ve had a lot of guys overlook me,” said Watson. “I’ve rolled with brown and black belts and world champions, and I’ve tapped them out because they’ve overlooked me. They’re like ‘oh, this guy’s brand new, he can’t get me.’ But with my tenacity and my belief that I can get anything and beat anybody that’s in front of me, I’ve been able to tap some of the best out there.”

Being a huge bantamweight at 5-11 doesn’t hurt his chances either. And unlike the late boxing star Diego Corrales, who starved his 6-0 frame down to 135 pounds, Watson has no difficulty getting to the bantamweight limit.

“It worked against me in football, but it’s helping me for MMA,” said of his size. “I don’t weigh more than 149-150 pounds if I had pizza the night before. So to get down to 135 is very easy for me. I train five hours a day, so my weight’s always really low, I eat very clean, so when it’s time to cut the weight, it drops right off.”

And as far as his height goes, “It gives me the advantage of being able to close the distance and it really helps my submissions. I can lock up submissions from some pretty strange angles because of my length and I have really good flexibility. So I pull off some strange things sometimes.”

Sounds like a fighter to watch. But is he ready? We asked the same thing of Peralta and he did just fine. So Watson is confident that he will join his buddy in the winner’s circle.

“I’m more than ready,” he said. “I feel blessed and I’m excited to show the world what I can do and what I can bring to the table.”

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We aren't done with Chicago yet, Vampire Diaries fans.

After taking viewers on a tour of The Windy City in the 1920s last night - read my review of "The End of the Affair" HERE - this CW favorite airs "Disturbing Behavior" next Thursday, an episode that finds Klaus still in Chicago and still pressing Gloria for help with a spell.

Elsewhere:

• A surprisingly ally comes to the aid of Stefan.
• Damon confronts a new enemy in Mystic Falls.
• Caroline continues to struggle with the ramifications of her dad's torture.
• Bonnie returns and has an unusual encounter.

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 Rooney for Oldboy? Surely the England striker is better suited to a live-action Shrek film? No, it's Rooney Mara who could find herself starring with Josh Brolin and Christian Bale in Spike Lee's remake of Oldboy - if the rumours are true.  Sources told Twitch that Mara is the project's first choice for the female lead, playing a character renamed as Marie in the US version of the film.  Mara seems to be shifting categories from 'one to watch' into 'one to watch at the multiplex', given her recent work on films such as David Fincher's Girl With The Dragon Tattoo remake, The Social Network and the Nightmare On Elm Street reboot.  Reports suggest that Brolin has now been confirmed for the lead role, playing a man who is kidnapped and imprisoned for 15 years before being released.  Christian Bale is thought to be first choice for the villain role, although there's still no word on whether that will happen yet.  Mark Protosevich (Thor, I Am Legend) has penned a script for the Oldboy remake that includes elements of Park Chan-wook‘s original, story from the comic which inspired that film and new material.

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Burn Notice will return on November 3 and close out its fifth season in December... with a trio of fun guest stars!

 

As first reported by TV Line, fans can look forward to the following known names/faces portraying the following roles:

• DEAN CAIN as a veteran, cocky CIA officer.
• ERIC ROBERTS as a traitor to the United States who sells intelligence to our enemies.
• KRISTANNA LOKEN as a young CIA agent with a counterterrorism background who may show up again on season six.

Burn Notice Winter Season Promo

Where did Burn Notice leave off? Read through our summer finale review to get caught up.

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The last episode of Glee featured the return of Shelby Corcoran and baby Beth, Quinn's return to the glee club and auditions for West Side Story.

The October 4 episode of Glee will focus on parents. First, Emma is very hesitant about introducing Will to her parents.  But Rusty (guest star Don Most) and Rose (guest star Valerie Mahaffey) Pillsbury make an unexpected visit and we learn more about why Emma is the way she is.  Meanwhile, Mike Chang will take center stage in this episode.  His father freaks out when he brings home an "Asian F" (a.k.a. an A-) on a test.  He approaches his principal and encourages Mike to give up glee club, but Mike is desperate to find a way to stay on top of everything.  In the meantime, he showcases his dancing and singing talents.

Meanwhile, Rachel and Mercedes are pitted against each other for the role of Maria in West Side Story, while Kurt and Brittany fight for the position of class president.

Below is a trailer and a sneak peek for the October 4 episode of Glee.  To view photos for the episode, click the arrows above.  Check back next week for more spoilers and an advance preview of "Asian F".

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 There will be a Scream 5 according to director Wes Craven, despite a disappointing box office performance for Scream 4.  "Yes. The odds are that there will be [a Scream 5]. It is something that Bob Weinstein wants to do. He tends to do what he wants to do. So I am inclined to think that there will be [another sequel]. Whether I will be a part of it or not? I don't know. My contract gives me the first look. If they show me something that is really wonderful? Of course I will be a part of it," Craven told Movieweb.   The director also confirmed that Scream 4 was supposed to be the beginning of a new trilogy for the franchise: “Going into [Scream 4], the first meeting I had with Kevin Williamson he did sketch out a Scream 5 and 6. The idea was that we were doing the first in a new trilogy. We had to wait to see if we made enough money on each film to make the next one viable. If that happens, those two will come up with the concepts and an idea that is worth fulfilling." So does the end of Scream 4 point to where the fifth film will go?  "I'd have to kill you if I told you. It's better to have an ending where you can't tell where it's going to go next than to have an ending where you go, 'Oh, that is the hook for the sequel. That is the hook for the next one.' We felt it was better to let the audience speculate than to have all of these clues placed in their lap. It's not a matter of not being smart enough. We're clever at this, let's just put it that way," he said. 

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It's a fair question. In a clip from tonight's Grey's Anatomy, Meredith openly wonders, upon witnessing Cristina and Owen awkwardly discuss what they're up to after work, whether the spouses ever actually speak.

They do have a lot on their respective plates these days.

Meanwhile, the residents continue to run roughshod over April, Richard makes a surprising announcement, and Meredith and Derek continue to be at sea regarding what the future of their relationship holds.

Check out four sneak peeks from "Take the Lead" below:

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