Michael Clayton, a dramatic thriller set to start shootingearly next year with George Clooney starring, has been added to SummitEntertainment's Cannes pre-sales slate.

Tony Gilroy, whose screenwriting credits include The BourneSupremacy and The Bourne Identity, will write the script and make his directingdebut on the film. Clooney's and Steven Soderbergh's Section Eight will producewith Samuels Media, Mirage Enterprises and Castle Rock Entertainment. SamuelsMedia will finance the project.

Clooney will play an in-house 'fixer' at a major New Yorklaw firm who for 15 years has worked behind the scenes to make clients'personal problems disappear. The story takes place over the four last -- andworst - days of his career.

Principal photography is scheduled to begin in January 2006on location in New York City.

Summit chief Patrick Wachsberger will handle foreign salesand is pre-selling international rights at this week's Cannes Film Festival.

Section Eight recently produced Ocean's Twelve and is inpost-production on Syriana and Good Night, and Good Luck, which Clooney isdirecting.

Samuels Media, headed by founder Steve Samuels, recentlycompleted the supernatural thriller Half Light, written and directed by CraigRosenberg and starring Demi Moore. Samuels is also executive producer ofRunning with Scissors, adapted and directed by Ryan Murphy.

Castle Rock's recent films include Before Sunset and ThePolar Express.

Sydney Pollack's and Anthony Minghella's Mirage has recentlyproduced The Interpreter and Cold Mountain.

CAA represents Clooney, Section Eight, Pollack, Mirage andGilroy.