Tom Cruise returns to Paramount for ‘Mission: Impossible 4′

(HMG) – Tom Cruise is returning to his action roots and will reprise the role of Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible 4 for Paramount.  It’s been four years since Mission: Impossible 3!  Star Trek director J.J. Abrams will produce the picture and Alias scribes Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec are to pen the script, reports Deadline Hollywood. This is one of those cases where getting the star onboard first was the priority and a director has not yet been attached to the mega sequel yet. Also it’s intersting that this project reunites Cruise and Paramount, which cut the actor loose from a long-term development deal in 2006.  The movie is expected to begin production this summer for a Memorial Day 2011 release. Cruise next stars in action comedy Knight and Day with Cameron Diaz, opening July 2 in US cinemas.