Jolie replaces Cruise in 'Edwin A. Salt'

Angelina Jolie will replace Tom Cruise in Columbia Pictures' spy thriller Edwin A. Salt, according to Variety.

Cruise fell out of the project believing that the eponymous character, a CIA operative who is accused of being a Russian sleeper agent, was too similar to Mission: Impossible's Ethan Hunt.

Philip Noyce is still on board to direct the film, with Kurt Wimmer rewriting the script to suit Jolie. Several male A-listers were circling the project after Cruise's departure, but Jolie's interest prompted Columbia to retool the screenplay.

Jolie's Wanted, which saw her return to the action genre, has proved big summer hit, grossing more than $250 million at the worldwide box office.