Watch: Has George Clooney the Director Returned to Form with "The Ides of March"?

George Clooney's "The Ides of March." Columbia Pictures.

That George Clooney is at it again! Following his mildly received period sports comedy "Leatherheads," Clooney seems to be back in "Good Night, and Good Luck." mode with his Venice Film Festival opener "The Ides of March." The first trailer just dropped for the political thriller and from the looks of it, you'll be hearing a lot more about Clooney's latest come awards season.

Judging from the preview Ryan Gosling takes center stage as Stephen Meyers, a young presidential campaign go-getter who plays dirty to get his candidate (Clooney) a nomination against a rival senator. A slew of other familiar faces pop up (Paul Giamatti, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood), showcasing "The Ides" as a bonafide actors showcase.

Following Venice, the film will play at the Toronto International Film Festival before opening on October 7.