'Hotel Rwanda' director in talks to helm

Columbia Pictures is developing the spy thriller "Edwin A. Salt" as a possible starring vehicle for Tom Cruise.

According to Variety, the studio is already in talks with "Hotel Rwanda" director Terry George to helm the film, which is based on a script by Kurt Wimmer ("Equilibrium").

The film would certainly fit with Cruise's recent interest in political subject matter. The United Artists head would play the eponymous hero, a CIA office accused of being a Russian sleeper spy. Naturally, Salt has to go on the run, protect his family and clear his name.

Cruise's busy current slate is largely focused around United Artists projects. He co-stars in Robert Redford's "Lions for Lambs," due for release this fall. He's currently early in production on Bryan Singer's "Valkyrie," about a WWII German plot to assassinate Hitler.

Last seen in "Mission: Impossible III," Cruise has lined up a number of potential features to go into production before a possible industry-wide strike. Variety references the Todd Phillips-directed Warner Bros. comedy "Men" as another candidate.

As for George, his next film is the Focus drama "Reservation Road," featuring Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Ruffalo and Jennifer Connelly.