Production on a fourth Mission Impossible movie is due to get under way by the end of the year, with Tom Cruise returning to role of secret agent man, Ethan Hunt.
Funding studio Paramount are thought to be waiting to see how Cruise's latest action flick, Knight and Day, performs on a global scale, before really getting things going on another sequel in the pricey franchise. 'Knight' hasn't done great business at the American box-office, but Cruise flicks generally are big earners overseas, which 'his people' hope will be the case with the Cameron Diaz co-starrer, thus making MI: 4 a lock.
Pixar stalwart Brad Bird is the man being touted as the director this time out, as he moves away from animated fare and into live action flicks. He directed The Incredibles and The Iron Giant, so the man knows a thing or three about good story anyhow.