Update : Variety has since confirmed our story

Moviehole has been informed by an inside source that Angelina Jolie will replace Tom Cruise as the star of ‘’Edwin A. Salt” – or “Edwina A. Salt”, as the film will now be suitably retitled.

The Philip Noyce-directed thriller is set for a February shoot in New York.

Rumour has it that Cruise felt the role was a little too similar to that of his ”Mission Impossible” character – IMF agent Ethan Hunt – and so left the production (He wasn’t, contrary to what others say, fired from the production).

After her success as an action heroine in films like “Wanted” and “Mr & Mrs Smith”, Jolie was snapped up rather quickly for the role (there is no truth to the rumour that Will Smith was asked to replace Cruise first – Smith was never approached).