Tom Cruise is reuniting with his Edge of Tomorrow director Doug Liman for the upcoming crime thriller Mena. Ron Howard was once attached to direct the project after Universal picked up the spec script by Gary Spinelli (Stash House) for $1 million. Universal is distributing, with Cross Creek Pictures providing the financing and producing with Imagine Entertainment.

Mena is based on the true story of Barry Seal, a TWA pilot who was fired and then becomes a major drug smuggler for the Medellin Cartel in Colombia. He was later recruited by both the DEA and the CIA to provide intelligence on the cartel, which was tied in to the Iran-Contra affair. Barry Seal was assassinated by the Colombians in 1986.

Brian Oliver and Tyler Thompson are producing for Cross Creek, alongside Imagine's Brian Grazer and Quadrant Pictures' Doug Davison. This project marks the first time Doug Liman has returned to Universal Pictures since his 2002 action-thriller The Bourne Identity. Tom Cruise last worked with Universal on Oblivion in 2013.

It isn't known when production may begin on Mena at this time. Tom Cruise is currently filming Mission: Impossible 5, and he is also attached to star in another Doug Liman project, El Presidente, along with Go Like Hell. Doug Liman is also attached to Splinter Cell and Still Swingin'.