Cruise and Paramount Set For Fourth “Mission: Impossible”
According to Variety, Paramount has announced that a fourth “Mission: Impossible” is set for a Memorial Weekend release in 2011. Tom Cruise will return as Ethan Hunt.
Cruise and J.J. Abrams — who co-wrote the “Mission: Impossible III” screenplay — will produce from a screenplay by Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec, a writing duo hired last summer to pen the script from an idea hatched by Cruise and Abrams. Appelbaum and Nemec spent four seasons with Abrams as co-exec producers of “Alias.”
J.J. Abrams also directed the last installment of the franchise, although his return to the director’s chair for the fourth film is in question.
The announcement also means that Paramount’s managed to repair its relationship with Cruise after ditching the star four years ago.
The three previous “Mission: Impossible” films have generated combined worldwide grosses of $1.4 billion for Paramount, including nearly $400 million for 2006’s third iteration. But Cruise’s salary and the costs of his deal led by Viacom chief Sumner Redstone ending the 14-year relationship with the star a few months after the thid film launched.
Though Par had no comment, it’s understood that the deals for the fourth “Mission” have been structured to hold down upfront costs with more potential compensation from the backend.
“Tom and J.J. are great talents and we are excited to be working with them to re-launch this legendary franchise,” said Paramount Pictures Chairman & CEO Brad Grey.
Cruise will be seen next in Fox’s action comedy “Knight and Day,” directed by James Mangold and co-starring Cameron Diaz. “Knight” is out July 2.
Cruise is represented by CAA. Abrams, Appelbaum and Nemec are represented by WME.
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