Cruise enlists for Hitler thriller

Actor Tom Cruise presents the Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 79th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, February 25, 2007.[Reuters]

Tom Cruise is set to star in an untitled thriller based on an attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler at the height of World War II.

Cruise had not intended to star in the project, which was acquired last week by his United Artists banner. However, during subsequent meetings, the project's director, Bryan Singer, became intrigued by the notion of Cruise as a central figure in the story and offered him the role. Cruise signed on Tuesday.

Production is scheduled to begin early this summer. MGM will distribute. Christopher McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander wrote the script. Singer and McQuarrie previously teamed on the Oscar-winning thriller "The Usual Suspects."

The filmmakers are saying the untitled project should not interfere with Singer's mounting of a sequel to "Superman Returns" for Warner Bros. Pictures early next year.

The project marks the second production to be greenlighted since Cruise and production partner Paula Wagner took control of United Artists last year. Production is under way on its inaugural film, "Lions for Lambs," directed by Robert Redford and starring Redford, Meryl Streep and Cruise. "Lambs" is scheduled for release November 9.