Phillip Noyce is in final negotiations to direct Tom Cruise in Columbia Pictures’ “Edwin A. Salt,” according to Variety.

Written by Kurt Wimmer, the film centers on a CIA agent who’s accused of being a Russian sleeper spy. Cruise is not officially cast at this stage, although he’s been showing interest in the project for a while already.

Cruise was last seen in Robert Redford’s “Lions for Lambs.” He will next star in Bryan Singer’s WWII drama “Valkyrie,” although he also briefly appears in Ben Stiller’s upcoming action comedy “Tropic Thunder.”

Noyce’s directing credits include “Clear and Present Danger” and “Rabbit-Proof Fence.” His most recent film was “Catch a Fire.”