That story about Brad Pitt supposed being “lined up” to replace Tom Cruise in the next Mission: Impossible film is “ totally untrue” and “utter fiction,” a senior Paramount Pictures spokesperson said early this afternoon.
Okay…the Pitt deal is a pipe dream. Does this mean Paramount intends to make M:I:4 (assuming they want to produce it) with Cruise, despite Viacom chief Sumner Redstone having recently booted him off the Paramount lot? The Mission: Impossible franchise “has been an extremely successful one for this studio, ” the spokesperson replied, “but whatever moves we make regarding the future makeup of these films is undetermined at this time.”
The story was linked and/or posted on Hollywood Wiretap, Jo Blo and Cinematical this morning, but the origin was an Evening Standard site called www.this islondon.co.uk, or “London Lite.”
The questionable “London Lite” story said that Pitt starring in the franchise would make him “the highest-paid actor in Hollywood history”, with “sources” saying that Paramount is “willing” to offer a salary topping 21 million pounds, or something approaching the vicinity of $40 million U.S. dollars.
“An insider told London Lite that ‘MI:IV will not include Cruise’s character, agent Ethan Hunt’ and that Paramount-based producers “are set on Brad taking over as a gutsy new head operative who puts together his own unique team of specialists.” The story said that “they’re considering a brief mention, saying Hunt retired to live a safe life with his new wife”, blah, blah.