Peter Berg to direct Cruise in 'Edwin A. Salt'?

Columbia Pictures' spy caper Edwin A. Salt, with Tom Cruise attached, has been missing a director since Michael Mann left the project for Universal's Public Enemies with Johnny Depp. Now insiders tell EW that the studio is eyeing Peter Berg (The Kindgom) as Mann's replacement. With a solid script from Kurt Wimmer (The Recruit), Columbia hopes to get Edwin A. Salt into production by March to avoid any interuptions due to the potential actors' strike. The two parties have yet to start negotiations--and Cruise likely would have director approval -- but the studio recently had a great experience with Berg on the Will Smith-starrer Hancock.