Man From U.N.C.L.E. Movie May Star Tom Cruise, Fresh From 'Jack Reacher' And 'Mission: Impossible' Action-Film Successes

Tom Cruise is set to lead the movie remake of long-running 60's spy TV drama Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Mission: Impossible star Tom Cruise is negotiating a role in the Guy Ritchie directed film based on The Man From U.N.C.L.E, according to Deadline.

Warner Bros. has been developing a movie based on the Man From UNCLE since the 1990's, and Ritche was recently confirmed as replacing Steven Soderbergh to direct the film.

Originally, George Clooney was going to star as the lead role, but Clooney left the project. He cited an unwillingness to take on an action role due to surgery in his neck and back as the reason for his departure.

Cruise will be taking on this third action franchise, with Mission: Impossible probably getting a fifth film after Ghost Protocol's huge box office hit last year and his recent Jack Reacher film that earned $215 Million worldwide, according to Guardian.

Cruise will appear on movie screens next in the sci-fi film Oblivion and action-flick All You Need Is Kill.

The original Man from UNCLE television show aired from 1964 to 1968. Robert Vaughn and David McCallum were members of the United Network Command for Law Enforcement (UNCLE). Vaughn played American spy Napoleon Solo and McCallum played Russian agent Illya Kuryakin.

The Man from UNCLE was part of a boom in successful spy TV shows after the early James Bond films became smash successes; 007 creator Ian Fleming was even involved in the TV show's conception.

Guy Ritchie is hoping for another successful action films after his Sherlock Holmes films starring Robert Downey Jr. became hits.

Ritchie has also been considered the frontrunner to direct the next Bond film, since Sam Mendes confirmed he would not return for the follow-up to Skyfall.