Three actresses in contention to star in Oblivion opposite Tom Cruise

And suddenly Tom Cruise is popular again. After going through a terrible drought for a few years, he came back in a big way in Tropic Thunder, and despite the flopperoonie that was Knight and Day, he's got a lot on his plate right now. Not the least of which is Oblivion, the sci-fi follow up by Tron: Legacy director Joseph Kosinski. Taking place in a future earth where humans live above the clouds after an alien invasion destroyed the planet, Cruise will play a drone repairman who discovers a mysterious woman in a crashed ship. Her presence forces him to question everything he's ever known.

Last month, Jessica Chastain(The Help) took over the less interesting sounding female lead role as Cruise's wife. That left one more, that of the unknown woman. Deadline reports that three actresses are in contention for it and will read for the role this weekend: Kate Beckinsale; Hayley Atwell; and Diane Kruger.


Beckinsale has the most franchise experience, playing Selene in three of four Underworld flicks. Atwell is fairly new to the game, but opened a few eyes as gun-packin' Peggy Carter in Captain America: The First Avenger. And Kruger is probably best known for her recent turn in Inglourious Basterds, but she's also been a part of the National Treasure series of films. She also makes for a damn fine Helen of Troy. Just sayin'. So any one of the three would make sense. Personally I'd shoot for Kruger to land this one, but part of me thinks they'll want to pair Cruise up with a newer face and go with Atwell.

Oblivion is due to hit theaters on July 19th 2013.