George Clooney to Direct and Star in 'Catch-22' Limited Series

George Clooney has set his long-awaited television return by signing on to direct and star in the limited series Catch-22. This marks Clooney's return to television after his five year stint on ER. Based on the novel by Joseph Heller, the six episode Catch-22 is produced by Paramount Television and Anonymous Content and written by Luke Davies (Lion) and David Michod (War Machine).

Catch-22 tells the story of Yossarian, a U.S. Air Force bombardier who is furious because thousands of people he has never met are trying to kill him. But his real problem is not the enemy — it is his own army, which keeps increasing the number of missions the men must fly to complete their service. If Yossarian makes any attempt to avoid the perilous missions he’s assigned, he’ll be in violation of Catch-22, a hilariously sinister bureaucratic rule which specifies that a concern for one’s own safety in the face of dangers that are real and immediate is the process of a rational mind; a man is considered insane if he willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, but a request to be removed from duty is evidence of sanity and therefore makes him ineligible to be relieved from duty.

Clooney will star as Colonel Cathcart.

No network is currently attached, but the series will be shopped around next month. With this kind of talent involved, it's sure to sell for a hefty price.