While the upcoming George Clooney-directed movie ‘The Ides of March’ originally was scheduled to get a limited release in December, and then open to a wider release in January 2012, Sony Pictures is now pushing for an earlier fall release, Collider.com is reporting. The political thriller, which is rumored to be a heavy awards contender next year, is now expected to to open in theaters on October 14. The news comes after multiple other wide releases have been scheduled to hit theaters that weekend, including ‘The Three Musketeers,’ ‘Footloose,’ ‘The Big Year’ and ‘The Thing.’

Starring alongside Clooney in ‘The Ides of March’ are Paul Giamatti, Ryan Gosling, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood. Clooney also co-wrote the script with his producing partner Grant Heslov, who also worked with him on ‘Good Night, and Good Luck.’ The screenplay was adapted from Beau Willimon’s play Farragut North, which follows a young press secretary who caves into dirty politics while he struggles to get his candidate elected.

Written by: Karen Benardello