'ER' producers want Clooney for final run

The producers of ER want George Clooney to make a return for the hospital drama's final season.

Executive producer David Zabel told TV Guide that storylines for the 15th and last series had been drawn up for all major past characters, including Clooney's Dr. Ross.

Zabel said he was "optimistic" that most of the stars would return to bring the show to a memorable end after 15 years on air.

"We have a really good storyline for every [major] character from the past to show [the actors] what we want to do," he said.

Anthony Edwards, whose character Dr. Mark Greene died of brain cancer in May 2002, has already agreed to return in flashback scenes. Laura Innes (Dr. Weaver), Paul McCrane (Dr. Romano, who also died) and Noah Wyle (Dr. John Carter) have also agreed to appear.

Clooney's publicist Stan Rosenfield said the star had already declined the offer.

"He is on record as saying he is not coming back. It is something he has already done. He is busy making movies," he said.

The long-running series is due to end with a two-hour finale in the spring of 2009, preceded by a one-hour retrospective.