MI:3

[Ravi]

The HD DVD comes with extra enhanced commentary by Tom Cruise and J.J. Abrams.

"This scene was really hard to film, woooo!"

[MacGuffin]

New Mission: Impossible Star?
Superstar rumored as Cruise replacement.

A year ago it would have been unthinkable that Tom Cruise and Paramount Pictures would get a divorce. But that's what happened. After Paramount opted not to renew the superstar's production deal (complete with a very public tongue-lashing from Viacom parent company chief Sumner Redstone), Cruise is now set to finance his own films through a deal with Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder.

While Paramount topper Brad Grey has publicly suggested that the studio and Cruise could work together again down the line, the divorce raised questions about the future of Paramount's Mission: Impossible franchise. Cruise was held personally accountable by Redstone for the expensive M:i:III's lukewarm box office results.

Now the rumor mill is suggesting that Paramount might replace Cruise as the star of the Mission: Impossible film series. According to British tabloid The Daily Mail, the same outlet that first named Daniel Craig as the new 007 months before it was officially announced, Paramount is considering offering Cruise's Interview With The Vampire co-star Brad Pitt the lead role in Mission: Impossible IV.

"MI:IV will not include Cruise's character, agent Ethan Hunt," the Mail's source claims. "They're considering a brief mention, saying Hunt retired to live a safe life with his new wife. ... They're set on Brad taking over as a gutsy new head operative who puts together his own unique team of specialists."

The tabloid suggests that Paramount is willing to pay Pitt a hefty salary to ensure that he stars in the sequel. With Cruise gone, Pitt is now the biggest star on the Paramount lot.

If these rumors prove true then it would not be the first time Paramount has recast the lead role(s) in one of their biggest franchises. The role of Jack Ryan has been played by three different stars so far, and the Star Trek film franchise switched out the original TV cast for their Next Generation successors. Paramount now reportedly wants to bring in a new cast for Star Trek XI.