Noyce to helm Cruise's 'Edwin A. Salt'

Phillip Noyce is in talks to direct Tom Cruise in spy thriller Edwin A. Salt, reports Variety.

The pair had been circling The 28th Amendment but chose instead to board the Kurt Wimmer-scripted espionage film.

Edwin A. Salt focuses on Cruise's CIA operative, who is accused of being a Russian sleeper agent. He must avoid capture long enough to clear his name.

Cruise has long been attached to the Wimmer script, which has seen two directors - Terry George and Peter Berg - depart the project in recent months.

Producers Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Sunil Perkash will oversee the film for Columbia Pictures.