Palisades Pictures, Strand Releasing and Holedigger Studios will release the new film in N.Y.C. and L. A. first then nationally throughout November. Lucas will appear at select New York screenings.

Filled with deceit and sexual tension, The Dying Gaul revolves around a love triangle between screenwriter Robert (Sarsgaard), his producer Jeffrey (Scott) and the film exec's wife, Elaine (Clarkson). Robert, against his artistic judgement, signs a contract and begins an affair with Jeffrey while his wife decides to get involved through an internet chat room.

"I've basically been the assistant director on so many movies, because I never leave the set. I'm odd as a screenwriter because I like to hear, I sit and I'm quiet. And I've learned a great deal," Lucas previously revealed to Playbill.com about his film directing debut. "So, I'm not confident, but I'm not petrified either."

The playwright broke the news about Scott's casting to Playbill.com in April 2003. Joining the actor will be Peter Sarsgaard and Patricia Clarkson. Linda Emond (Life x 3, Homebody/Kabul), Robin Bartlett (Everett Beekin, Reckless) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (On the Mountain, 36 Views) also appear.

Scott has also appeared in the Lucas-penned films "Longtime Companion" and "The Secret Lives of Dentists." Other film turns for the actor include "Dying Young," "Singles," "Roger Dodger" and the upcoming screen version of Wallace Shawn's "Marie and Bruce." On stage, he has appeared on stage in Ah, Wilderness!, The Real Thing and Hamlet. Her turn in the films "Far From Heaven," "Pieces of April" and "The Station Agent," garnered Clarkson much acclaim. The actress seen in the recent "Good Night, and Good Luck" appeared on stage at the Kennedy Center in A Streetcar Named Desire. She has also been seen in Eastern Standard, The House of Blue Leaves, The Author's Voice, The Maderati, Vanishing Act, The Maiden's Prayer, Raised in Captivity, Three Days of Rain, Wolf-Man and Oliver, Oliver.

Sarsgaard, who received plaudits for his turn in the film "Shattered Glass," played Off Broadway in Burn This opposite Elisabeth Shue in the role created by Edward Norton. Other credits include Laura Dennis, Kingdom of Earth and American Archeology as well as the films "Garden State," "Boys Don't Cry," "The Salton Sea" and "Dead Man Walking."

Lucas penned the book for the Adam Guettel musical The Light in the Piazza. His recent plays include The Singing Forest and Small Tragedy. Other works include Reckless, Prelude to a Kiss, Blue Window, God's Heart, and Stranger among others. In recent years, the playwright has taken to directing such productions as Play Yourself, Saved or Destroyed and This Thing of Darkness.

"The Dying Gaul" is on the web at www.thedyinggaul.com.