Cruise vs. Washington in The Matarese Circle

“The Matarese Circle” just keeps getting more and more interesting. After landing Denzel Washington as the lead, the spy movie somehow got David Cronenberg to direct, and now the film has now landed Tom Cruise as the second half of a spy vs. spy conflict at the heart of the movie. The film finds two former Cold War enemies, a Russian and an American, teaming up to take on an even greater menace, the Matarese Circle of the title. Obviously since it’s kind of hard to find an African-Russian spy, Washington will play the American, and Cruise the Russian. First German and now Russian? What’s next, Tom, Japanese? Oh wait, nevermind. Moving on.

Variety reports:

Tom Cruise is getting ready to partner with Denzel Washington in “The Matarese Circle,” the David Cronenberg-directed adaptation of the Robert Ludlum thriller for MGM.

Cruise will go mano a mano with Washington as two bitter enemy spies who, after spending two decades trying to kill each other, grudgingly team up against the Matarese, a powerful group at the root of a conspiracy.

Writing boyos Michael Brandt and Derek Haas (”Wanted”) are turning the Cold War-set original novel by Robert Ludlum into a more contemporary story. Whatever they come up with, Cronenberg will probably tweak it more to his sensibilities.

Below: Tom Cruise flees his imploding movie career.