Just a few weeks ago, Joseph Kosinski's Oblivion was a project without a home after Disney dropped the adaptation. Now it may have found both a home and a leading man, with Tom Cruise in early talks to star in the sci-fi adventure, and Universal Pictures in talks to distribute.

Oblivion is set in a future where the Earth has become too toxic and humans now live in cities about the clouds, away from the radiation. The story centers on a lone repair man named Jax, who is essentially the only human left on Earth. He finds that a mysterious woman has crash landed on the desolate planet, which sets off a series of events, making him question his beliefs.

If Universal can finalize this deal soon, production will start in October. Joseph Kosinski, who co-created the graphic novel Oblivion is based on, will direct from a script by William Monahan and Karl Gajdusek.

Tom Cruise doesn't have a deal in place yet, but discussions are under way. If he signs on, he would start filming after he wraps on the musical Rock of Ages.