Julia Roberts is about to end her maternity leave, drop the kid off with a nanny, and get back to work. She’s in talks to join the Mike Nichols’ next movie Charlie’s War.

The film is a covert-ops movie about the work of the CIA in Afghanistan to arm the mujahideen. Running the show was a named Charlie Wilson charismatic, fast-talking, Texas congressman who, along with a rogue CIA operative, manipulated the US government and others into helping Afghan rebels fight the Soviets in the 80’s.

A return to cold-war era spying is always welcome, though this sounds like a movie more focused on the politics of period specific covert operations. Don’t expect a lot of Bond-like gadgets.

Tom Hanks is already on board to play the role of Charlie Wilson. Roberts, if she joins the cast, will play a cliché Texas socialite named Joanne Herring who influences Wilson into supporting the Afghan rebels.

Like everything these days, the movie is based on a book. Original screenplays no longer exist. The book “War” is being adapted into a screenplay for Charlie’s War by the “West Wing’s” Aaron Sorkin… another indicator that it’s probably going to be politically focused. Expect something along the lines of Syriana, only set in the 80’s and hopefully a lot less intentionally confusing.