Paramount looks to make "Mission: Impossible IV" possible

Paramount plans to make "Mission: Impossible IV" which would bring back Tom Cruise as super spy "Ethan Hunt" and have "Star Trek's" J. J. Abrams co-produce the film with Cruise.

According to an article in Variety, "Tom Cruise and J.J. Abrams have reached agreement to co-produce the sequel aimed at a 2011 release. The project would augment Paramount's formidable array of sequels, which will include 'Star Trek 2' and a third 'Transformers.'"

Cruise's return to Paramount is startling given his August 2006 departure, which was due to Viacom chief Sumner Redstone's displeasure with the megastar's deal which culminated in the termination of Cruise's 14-year relationship with the studio.

Yet, the actor's exit from Paramount did lead Cruise to become the chief of United Artists and enabled him to take a more forceful role in production decisions.

In the interim, Redstone has endeavored to repair the relationship between himself and Cruise. An example being that at a recent appearance, Redstone described the actor as "a great actor and a good friend."

Yet, the Variety article mentioned, "Work on 'Mission: Impossible IV' would inevitably be delayed by the busy schedules of the participants."

Busy doesn't even begin to describe what Abrams and Cruise have coming up on their agendas. Abrams will be tied up handling the "Star Trek" sequel while Cruise has already committed to a picture previously called "Wichita" for 20th Century Fox that will be directed by James Mangold and will co-star actress Cameron Diaz. Mangold directed 1999's "Girl, Interrupted," which won Angelina Jolie the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role as well as 2005's "Walk the Line," the biopic chronicling the life of country singing icon Johnny Cash, which won actress Reese Witherspoon the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her portrayal of Cash's wife, June Carter.