Coen brothers film to open Venice

World preem of the dark spy comedy, starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand and Tilda Swinton, will launch from the Venice Lido Aug. 27, ahead of its U.K. release Sept. 5 via Universal Pictures.

Pic goes out Stateside via Focus Features Sept. 12. Medusa is its Italian distributor.

"Burn," which the Coens wrote and directed, revolves around an ousted CIA official, played by John Malkovich, whose memoir falls into the hands of two Washington, D.C., gym employees, who decide to attempt to exploit their find.

Highly awaited Coen brothers' latest is a Working Title production, produced by Joel and Ethan Coen, and executive-produced by Working Title’s Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Robert Graf.

A Venice fest rep told Daily Variety it has not yet been decided whether “Burn After Reading” will unspool at the Lido in competition or out-of-competition.

“No Country for Old Men” launched last year from Cannes in competish.

The Coens were last on the Lido with “Intolerable Cruelty,” starring Clooney opposite Catherine Zeta Jones, in 2003, out-of-competition.

“Burn” marks the second consecutive year a film from the Working Title stable opens Venice, following “Atonement” last year.

The Venice Film Festival will run Aug. 27-Sept 6.