Just when you thought Tom Cruise didn't have enough projects on his plate, it appears he is eying yet another movie. The actor is apparently in early talks to star in the big screen adaptation of the 1960s television series 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' The film was originally set to star George Clooney, but that was when Steven Soderbergh was in place to direct the film. Now that Soderbergh's self-imposed retirement has forced him off the project, Guy Ritchie ('Sherlock Holmes') has taken over, and it looks like Cruise may be the new leading man. In the original series, which ran from 1964-1968, Robert Vaughn and David McCallum played agents of the United Network Command for Law Enforcement, battling the forces of Thrush. If Cruise signs on to 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,' there is the potential it will lead to a new franchise, a la 'Mission: Impossible.' As of right now, that deal is not finalized.

I have my problems with Tom Cruise, namely that he's a world class looney tune, but it cannot be denied that the guy is a natural born movie star. While I would have preferred to have seen Clooney in the role, I don't think Tom Cruise is a bad choice for a replacement. Though 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' may not be a wildly relevant property to adapt, it is precisely because of the 'Mission: Impossible' movies that I am looking forward to Ritchie's upcoming big screen version of 'U.N.C.L.E.' The espionage and the gadgets were fundamental elements of the series, and we've seen how easily those things translate to contemporary cinema; not that they work every single time, but the potential is there. Of course, the other major component of 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' was the relationship between the two leads. So there needs to be a team dynamic as opposed to just letting it be the Tom Cruise show; something the 'Mission: Impossible' sequels eventually figured out. Therefore, I'm really interested in who they cast as the other man from U.N.C.L.E.

What do you guys think? Is Tom Cruise a suitable lead here? Who should they cast as his U.N.C.L.E. cohort?

Source: Deadline