Jolie Replaces Cruise in Espionage Thriller

Anything can happen in Hollywood, but now, even gender-specific roles may not be that specific anymore.

Tom Cruise, who was recently expected to star in Edwin A. Salt, Columbia Pictures' spy thriller, has been replaced by Lara Croft herself. And he should have known that this is one woman that is not afraid of doing a man's job.

Jolie, who has earned her action stripes in films like Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Tomb Raider and more recently, Wanted, is on the verge of closing a deal that will land her the leading role in a film that has caught the eyes of several male stars, reported Variety.

Facilitating the change will be screenwriter Kurt Wimmer, who will tailor the script appropriately, and amongst others on fold-out chairs will be director Philip Noyce, and producers Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Sunil Perkash.

According to Variety, Edwin A. Salt, which will no doubt undergo a title change, will center on Jolie, a CIA officer, as she avoids capture and tries to prove her innocence after being accused of being a Russian spy.

Angelina Jolie, who recently lent her voice to Dreamworks' Kung-Fu Panda, attracted a fair deal of attention at the Cannes Film Festival for her performance in Clint Eastwood's drama, The Changeling.

The Changeling opens late October.