Charlize Theron has opted out of the Spyglass-produced thriller “The Tourist,” to which she has long been attached, and in talks to replace her is one Angelina Jolie, sources say.

The tomb-raiding one, fresh off an action-heavy part in “Salt,” would take on the one-part seductress, one-part action role of the title.

The project is now also seeking a director, as Bharat Nalluri, the “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day” helmer who had been attached to direct, is as of last week off the project, with producers now seeking a new helmer to pair with Jolie. Neither Spyglass nor the director or actresses’ reps could immediately be reached for comment.

Production has at least until this point been tentatively set for early 2010, which could prompt producers to act quickly on a director.

A remake of the French thriller “Anthony Zimmer” from 2005, “Tourist” centers on an American tourist who, on behalf of Interpol, goes undercover to entrap a former lover who’s a suspected global criminal. It follows in the long tradition of innocents caught up in shady activities abroad that dates back to Hitchcock (“The Man Who Knew Too Much”), Polanski (“Frantic”) and beyond, and a theme that also has contemporary echoes with “Taken” this past year.

It’s not the first time there’s been movement on “Tourist.” Tom Cruise had been loosely attached at an earlier point for the lead male role, but Sam Worthington will now play the part as he rides his
“Terminator: Salvation” and “Avatar” hot streak.

There are few A-list females who producers like for lead action roles, and with Jolie not attached to star in any imminent projects post-”Salt,” “Tourist” is seen as a perfect itinerary for her.

Source: http://www.riskybusinessblog.com/