Bradley Cooper Out Of “U.N.C.L.E.”

“The Hangover” star Bradley Cooper has turned down an offer to star in Steven Soderbergh‘s “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” reports The Wrap.

Cooper marks the fourth actor to pass on the lead role of American spy Napoleon Solo in the film adaptation of the ’60s spy series about two partners at the international spy agency U.N.C.L.E. who battle the evil plans of the organization T.H.R.U.S.H.. Soderbergh and scribe Scott Z. Burns plan to keep the film in the 1960’s period setting.

A few weeks back it seemed Cooper was likely to accept the part and his agents had campaigned hard for it, so the dropping out is a mild surprise. George Clooney, Johnny Depp, Matt Damon previously all passed on the part which Robert Vaughn played in the original show.

The search now continues for actors to play Solo and his partner Russian spy Illya Kuryakin, though Joel Edgerton has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the latter. John Davis, Jeff Kleeman and David Dobkin are producing.