Cruise was never set to star in Jolie’s film

Courtney Hazlett The Scoop

Angelina Jolie might be many things, but she is not a “replacement” for Tom Cruise in the upcoming spy thriller “Edwin A. Salt,” as many outlets have reported.

According to a source close to the film, the studio did want Cruise in the lead role, but the actor passed.

“This story about Jolie taking over is completely false ... this started with an inaccurate report months ago that said (Cruise) was taking the role,” says the source. “They courted him for almost a year for this movie. He considered it but passed.”

The source says a legitimate announcement about Cruise’s next film could come sooner rather than later. “He’s been offered many roles in the past few months. We’re sure to see news about the next project soon.”

Anyone want to date Aniston?
It’s always interesting to consider how celebrity-relationship news leaks. Often, it’s a photo that does the talking (Balthazar Getty and Sienna Miller, anyone?).

But in the case of Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer's recent break-up, it was Aniston’s camp — casting the net for potential suitors — that caused the leak.

“I got a call from someone very, very close to Jen over the weekend, asking if I knew anyone who might want to go out on a date with her,” says one industry insider. “They weren’t being very discreet about it — the news hadn’t even broken yet that she and John split. You’d think of all people, Jen Aniston wouldn’t need to use people in her camp as a dating service.”

Mary-Kate Olsen burning through her cash
Not even exceptionally well-off former child stars are immune from economic tough times.

Slideshow   Celebrity sightings ‘Idol’ David Cook takes his cuts, Paris is amused in Amsterdam and more. more photos

News is trickling out that Mary-Kate Olsen, (who, according to Forbes, splits an estimated $40 million annual income with her sister Ashley) is “burning through her money,” says Us Weekly.

The magazine says that M-K has been advised to cut down on “travel, jewelry, clothes and especially security.”

That said, the magazine also includes the counter-opinion of an insider who claims things are fine. “She has been focusing so much on her career and business, there hasn’t been time to spend a lot of money,” the source says.

Zac Efron, $8 million man?
It might sound premature to be discussing salaries for “High School Musical 4” since “HSM 3” isn’t even due in theaters until Oct. 24, but the film’s star Zac Efron reportedly has a salary increase in mind.

“He’s thinking in the $8 million to $10 million range,” reports Life & Style, “but it depends on how the movie opens and how desperately they want him back.”

Since “High School Musical 2” brought in 17.3 million viewers the weekend it premiered on the Disney channel, odds are good that Efron will have the bargaining chip he wants.

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