WB’s “Man of Steel” star Henry Cavill is now in talks to be the studio’s “Man From U.N.C.L.E.,” TheWrap has learned.
Cavill is making a deal to play Napoleon Solo in Guy Ritchie‘s feature adaptation of the classic 1960s TV series.
Cruise left the project last week in order to focus his attention on producing “Mission: Impossible 5” for Paramount and Skydance.
With “Man of Steel” buzz swirling in Burbank, WB execs are confident that Cavill has what it takes to launch a franchise that lacks the built-in audience of Superman fans. The British star of “The Tudors” previously powered Relativity’s “Immortals” to a worldwide gross of $226 million.
Ritchie had been expecting to start production in the fall with Armie Hammer co-starring as Illya Kuryakin, Solo’s fellow agent in the United Network Command for Law Enforcement. Robert Vaughan and David McCallum originated the roles on the 60s spy series.
Ritchie is producing with Lionel Wigram and John Davis.
It’s early days, but CAA-repped Cavill doesn’t have any projects crowding his fall schedule, as WB and Legendary East’s supernatural movie “The Great Wall” has been postponed indefinitely.
