Angelina Jolie the Actress generally has two modes – either she’s doing straight drama with some kind of yelling, crying, insanity and/or seduction, or she’s doing some kind of ass-kicking, gun-toting badass action film, usually with some kind of seduction. She’s no Cate Blanchett, but I think Angelina’s a better actress than most of the so-called A-List talent, and I’ve always liked her performances. So I’ve seen most of her films, regardless of the genre – and I have to say, I prefer her when she’s carrying a gun, jumping around, blasting away bad guys and being a badass. She’s one of the most naturally physical actors (male and female) in films today, and I wish she would do more action films instead of searching out that ever-elusive second Oscar. So this latest would-be casting news has me happy – Angelina is considering taking over an action role that Charlize Theron dropped out of. The film is called The Tourist, and it’s in development for a 2011 release.

Charlize Theron has opted out of the Spyglass-produced thriller “The Tourist,” to which she has long been attached, and in talks to replace her is one Angelina Jolie, sources say.

The tomb-raiding one, fresh off an action-heavy part in “Salt,” would take on the one-part seductress, one-part action role of the title.

The project is now also seeking a director, as Bharat Nalluri, the “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day” helmer who had been attached to direct, is as of last week off the project, with producers now seeking a new helmer to pair with Jolie. Neither Spyglass nor the director or actresses’ reps could immediately be reached for comment.

Production has at least until this point been tentatively set for early 2010, which could prompt producers to act quickly on a director.

A remake of the French thriller “Anthony Zimmer” from 2005, “Tourist” centers on an American tourist who, on behalf of Interpol, goes undercover to entrap a former lover who’s a suspected global criminal. It follows in the long tradition of innocents caught up in shady activities abroad that dates back to Hitchcock (“The Man Who Knew Too Much”), Polanski (“Frantic”) and beyond, and a theme that also has contemporary echoes with “Taken” this past year.

It’s not the first time there’s been movement on “Tourist.” Tom Cruise had been loosely attached at an earlier point for the lead male role, but Sam Worthington will now play the part as he rides his “Terminator: Salvation” and “Avatar” hot streak.

There are few A-list females who producers like for lead action roles, and with Jolie not attached to star in any imminent projects post-“Salt,” “Tourist” is seen as a perfect itinerary for her.

[From The Hollywood Reporter, Risky Business blog]

It does sound like an interesting movie. Action-suspense, which I enjoy. Interesting that it’s being compared to Taken, which was sort of the surprise hit of this past Spring. I thought the ads for Taken looked terrible, so when I finally rented it, my expectations were very low. I was pleasantly surprised – Taken is actually a decent film, and a really good action movie if you’re in the mood for it.

I’m a little surprised that Angelina would actually take a role that was written for a woman – her last film, Salt, was written for a man (Tom Cruise) and had to be re-written for Angelina. It seems like The Tourist has been in development for so long, they probably considered rewriting both “the girl” role (Angelina’s) and “the boy” role (Sam Worthington’s). I think Sam and Angelina would make an interesting on-screen couple – the guy is hot, but a total moron if his interviews are any indication.