Daniel Craig in talks to play lead role in `Cowboys and Aliens`

DreamWorks and Jon Favreau are in talks with Daniel Craig to play the lead role in "Cowboys and Aliens" after Robert Downey Jr. ankled the project - reports Variety.

Craig has been offered the role of Jake Johnson in the pic, based on the 2006 graphic novel about a group of Apache Indians and Western settlers who resolve to patch up their differences when an alien spaceship crash-lands in their city.

Reps for Craig said it was too early to comment on whether the actor would board "Cowboys and Aliens," which Favreau is directing. Project is written by Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof.

While it is still early days and Craig has not officially accepted the role, the thesp does have a long-standing relationship with DreamWorks, having appeared in "Munich" and "Road to Perdition."

He also stars in Steven Spielberg's "The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn" for Paramount and Sony.

With production on the next James Bond pic up in the air until the fate of beleagured MGM is decided, Craig may have a open slot in his schedule to shoot "Cowboys and Aliens."

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