MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE IV May Not Be MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE IV, Even Though It Will Be...While It Isn't...

Merrick here...
We've known for a while now that Paramount was considering retooling the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE franchise; most recently we heard rumblings that it was feasible Tom Cruise wouldn't appear in the J.J. Abrams produced MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE IV due to his recent string of films under performing at the box office. THEN...we heard he is going to be returning as Ethan Hunt after all, which was a bit of a surprise all things considered. Turns out...The Powers That Be may've found a way to have their cake and eat it too.

Paramount is on a mission to redo the "Mission: Impossible" franchise. The new Tom Cruise film, directed by Brad Bird, may have a title that goes in a different direction from the previous three and will introduce an agent played by Jeremy Renner who could also be featured in any subsequent pics. [EDIT] Details of the plot are under wraps, although insiders said the story brings a fresh perspective to the action-spy franchise and does not pick up where the last film left off. [EDIT] Insiders disclosed Thursday that the next film in the series won't be called "Mission: Impossible IV." It's possible that the title won't even include any variation of the familiar moniker (much as Christopher Nolan's Batman sequel was simply titled "The Dark Knight").

...says THIS intriguing piece in Variety. Check it out. Given that we've already learned folks like Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames will be returning to roles they've established in previous M:I films, it would seem we're essentially looking at a "spin-off" here more than a full overhaul or reboot - apparently leaving room for the existing M:I movieverse and characters to go on, but pretty-much without Cruise. At least that's my best guess. More as we know more.
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