Cruise Confirmed for “Mission: Impossible IV,” Celebrations Break Out Worldwide

Mission: Impossible–finding someone who has this poster hanging on the wall.

ComingSoon brings word from Paramount Pictures that a fourth “Mission: Impossible” film will be made. Tom Cruise is set to star again. “Mission: Impossible IV” will open on Memorial Day weekend, 2011.

JJ Abrams, who directed the third film in the series will not direct this one, but he is producing along with Cruise. Abrams and Cruise also came up with the story idea for this film. They’re currently looking for writers to put it together and a director to take charge.

Paramount head guy Brad Gray says, “Tom and J.J. are great talents and we are excited to be working with them to re-launch this legendary franchise.”

Wow, legendary? That seems like a bit of a stretch. The “Mission: Impossible” films have always made good money, especially in the international marketplace (the previous three films have earned over $1.4 billion worldwide). Despite that, the films seemed generate little critical praise or cultural buzz; when was the last time you heard someone quote a line from a “Mission: Impossible” movie, or say they couldn’t wait until the next one came out? These are the kind of movies that open on a weekend during the summer and people feel almost like they’re obliged to go because it’s the big action summer movie of the week. They’re not bad–they’re solid, workmanlike action productions–but they don’t seem to excite anyone either. But, as we said, they make money, and that’s all that counts.