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U.S. TV’s Answer to James Bond Might Finally Be Coming to the Big Screen, Featuring an A-List Superstar Whose Movies Have Grossed More Than $3 Billion Thus Far

Mar 18, 2013  •  Post A Comment

The TV show we’re referring to was a huge baby-boomer favorite: "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.." In its time, it was the most successful U.S. TV version of the James Bond franchise, which had hit movie theaters in 1962. And who is in talks to play superagent Napoleon Solo? Superstar Tom Cruise.

All of this is being reported by our friend Mike Fleming Jr. at Deadline.com.

The article also says that the film "will be directed by ‘Sherlock Holmes’ helmer Guy Ritchie. The original MGM TV series ran from 1964-68, with Robert Vaughn and David McCallum playing Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin, respectively, two agents of the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement. With gadgets and their wits and charm, they fought the evil forces of THRUSH. Warner Bros has long been high on the project, especially when the studio had Steven Soderbergh ready to direct George Clooney in the lead. The actor dropped out because he needed surgery on his neck and back, and he wasn’t up for a physical role. After Soderbergh departed, the studio turned the project over to Ritchie and his producing partner Lionel Wigram."

4 Comments

  1. Dear TVBizwire transcriber, That’s “U.N.C.L.E.,” not “Uncle.” You’re welcome.

  2. No. Just No. I have no personal issue with Mr. Cruise, but he is simply the wrong actor for this role.
    Unlike the way it is in the MI movies, Solo is not the leader but part of a team. Solo is not solo… he has a partner. An equal. Who could (would) co-star with Mr. Cruise that would truly be a CO-star and carry an equal part of the movie?
    Besides, America’s “James Bond” isn’t Napoleon Solo…
    It’s Derek Flint.

  3. Agree with John. Derek Flint was the James Bond of the U.S. He worked on his own. The Men from U.N.C.L.E. worked as a team; and Tom Cruise is too old for this part anyway.

  4. I agree! Quit casting that little guy!
    He just ruins the image we baby boomers have have of wonderful characters.
    He was a horrible Jack Reacher already….we lost the whole impact of the 6’6″ Reacher…..

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