Bradley Cooper is looking likely to replace George Clooney in the Steven Soderbergh directed big screen adaptation of The Man From U.N.C.L.E, reports Variety.

Cooper's agents have been pushing the actor for the role since Clooney pulled out, citing the physicality of the part. Cooper is absolutely flying at the moment, and has just wrapped the Ryan Gosling co-starring, The Place Beyond the Pines; is currently shooting The Silver Linings Playbook with David O'Russell, and has the epic tale, Paradise Lost lined up for January - where he'll play Lucifer.

It's thought that production on U.N.C.L.E would begin in April. Expect to hear word on The Hangover 3 soon, too.