Steven Soderbergh has been looking for a lead for his THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. adaptation and now Deadline.com reports that he is eying his MAGIC MIKE actor Channing Tatum. George Clooney was originally set to star, but backed out due to his upcoming surgery and the stunt work involved in the film. Variety reported last month that Bradley Cooper was up for the role as well. Warner Bros. is eager to start production in the winter.

The TV series on which the film is based ran from 1964-68. The story follows the spy team of American Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn) and Russian Illya Kuryakin (David McCallum).