LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone's biopic charting the life and times of US leader George W. Bush will be released three weeks before November's presidential election, it was reported Friday.

Stone's film, simply entitled "W", is set to hit theaters on October 17, less than a month before voters head to the polls to elect Bush's successor on November 4, entertainment industry journal Daily Variety reported.

Intense interest has surrounded Stone's film, which will star "No Country for Old Men" actor Josh Brolin as Bush and Elizabeth Banks as first lady Laura Bush. Filming is to begin next week.

"We don't really know much about Mr. Bush beyond the controlled images we've been allowed to see on TV," Stone said in a statement. "This movie's taking a bold stab at looking behind that curtain."

Stone, 61, has already made several films focusing on historical figures, including two about US presidents, "Nixon" and "JFK."

The veteran director has won three Oscars -- best screenplay for "Midnight Express" in 1979, and best director in 1987 and 1990 for "Platoon" and "Born on the Fourth of July" respectively.

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