Tom Cruise is going to join Denzel Washington in David Cronenberg’s film version of Robert Ludlum’s The Matarese Circle.

I have to say this sounds very good to me. Cronenberg has, in the last few years, proven himself to be a master of the crime genre, I can’t wait to see what he does with the world of spies.

Cruise is stepping into a production that is going to require him to be part of the team, Cronenberg is not a director that bows down to the actors. That is not to say he does not work with them, but that he is not a yes man there to do what the stars want.

These three have me very interested in this project.

As was previously reported, the screenplay is from Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, with some input from Cronenberg. The two most recently wrote Wanted and are also responsible for the 2007 remake of 3:10 to Yuma as well as the stinky 2 Fast 2 Furious.

U.S. agent Bradly Scofield and Russian agent Vasili Taleniekov have been enemies
for years. Each is responsible for the death of one close to the other. When an
organization of assassins, known as The Matarese, emerges, the two are forced to
work together to stop the group.

That is the plot for the original story. The story will reportedly be updated, but will keep the tone and flavor of the novel.