Sam Worthington Set to Star in 'The Tourist'

© Albert L. Ortega/PR Photos

Sam Worthington is set to star in "The Tourist", the remake of 2005's "Anthony Zimmer". Variety reported that the Aussie actor replaced Tom Cruise who had been flirting with the project since 2008. He came into the loop after Cruise finally landed onto the untitled James Mangold project.

In the Bharat Nalluri-directed movie, 33-year-old Worthington will play an American tourist, joining Charlize Theron who has been touted earlier to star in the thriller film. The star of "Terminator Salvation" is expected join the production which is slated to be kicked off in January 2010 after previously being postponed.

Written by Julian Fellowes, Bill Wheeler and Chris McQuarrie, "The Tourist" centers on a tourist who becomes the target of manipulation by a European Interpol agent in an attempt to flush out an elusive criminal who was her former lover. Theron is set to play the agent. Producers Roger Birnbaum, Gary Barber and Jonathan Glickman eye to release the film in U.S. theaters in 2010.

Sam Worthington recently starred alongside Christian Bale in "Terminator Salvation". He took the role of Marcus Wright. He was considered to take over the James Bond part from Pierce Brosnan for "Casino Royale", but lost it to Daniel Craig. Worthington will soon be seen in James Cameron's sci-fi "Avatar", which Fox will release in U.S. theaters on December 18, 2009, and "Clash of the Titans", which is set for U.S. release on March 26, 2010.