Henry Cavill in talks to replace Tom Cruise in 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'

Hollywood's new Superman has been tapped to top the bill for this spy film by Guy Ritchie, Variety divulges.

British movie actor Henry Cavill, who'll be flying faster than a silver bullet this summer in "Man of Steel," is in talks to supersede Tom Cruise as the lead in "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." Armie Hammer ("Lone Ranger") and Alicia Vikander ("Royal Affair") will co-star in this liberal adaptation of the 1960s TV series.

After exploring the complicated friendship between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, Guy Ritchie will be shifting gears and switching eras to home in on the Cold War rivalry between American agent Napoleon Solo (Cavill of course) and his Soviet opposite number Illya Kuryakin (Hammer), who are compelled to team up against a terrorist organization. Robert Vaughan and David McCallum played these parts in the original '60s series.

Warner Bros. hopes to start shooting "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." this fall.