We found out back in March that Tom Cruise was set to star in The Man From U.N.C.L.E., a movie version of the TV series that aired from 1964 to 1968 that’s being directed by Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes, Snatch).

But recently Cruise decided to walk away from the movie to instead focus on Mission: Impossible 5, a franchise also born from a ’60s TV series.

Now comes word that Man of Steel star Henry Cavill has entered into early negotiations to take Cruise’s spot as the Man From U.N.C.L.E. lead.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. may be Warner Brothers’ long-gestating adaptation of the famed spy thriller, but that won’t stop the studio from trying to get it produced. Sure Steven Soderberg may have dropped out of the project – after Matthew Vaughn and David Dobkin were attached – but Guy Ritchie would eventually sign on, saving the project from perpetual gestation. Seemed like a nice fit, after all he directed two hit Sherlock Holmes films starring Robert Downey Jr. for the studio.

Now THR has word that Tom Cruise is in talks to take the lead role that was originally played by Robert Vaughn in the 1960s TV version.

Guy Ritche has signed on to adapt yet another classic piece of literature. According to Deadline, the filmmaker will be working with Sherlock Holmes producer Lionel Wigram, who has been looking to add a contemporary feel to the famed children’s novel Treasure Island. So it seems to make sense that Ritchie and Wigram reunite for something like this.

Not much is known about the actual film itself. Alex Harakis was the last screenwriter attached to the script. Ritchie himself has other things on his plate as well. He subbed in for Steven Soderbergh when he left The Man From U.N.C.L.E., so it could be a while before we see this get into production.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Directed by Guy Ritchie
Starring Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Jared Harris, Noomi Rapace, Stephen Fry, Rachel McAdams, Kelly Reily
Release Date: December 16, 2011

Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) is back, and this time he is facing the greatest challenge of his life. His former partner, Dr. John Watson (Jude Law) has moved on with his life as he prepares to wed Mary Watson (Kelly Reily). Holmes is left alone to let his mind wander between his latest inventions (which include “urban camouflage” and adrenalin shots) and ongoing investigation in crimes which nobody else even believes are even happening.

Though the story of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows continues roughly where the first film left off, an unknown amount of time has passed. In that time, Holmes has become increasingly erratic as he obsessively tracks what he believes is an international scheme by Professor James Moriarty (Jared Harris).

That apparently didn’t take all that long.

Deadline is reporting that WB has found a replacement for Steven Soderbergh, who recently left the project, in the form of one Guy Ritchie to take over the studio’s long talked about project, The Man From U.N.C.L.E..

Ritchie will direct from a script penned by Scott Z. Burns, and will be based on the beloved television show.