Simon Pegg in MI:4?

Five months ago, Paramount sealed a deal with Tom Cruise for an addition to the Mission: Impossible franchise. Now, it looks as if Simon Pegg (the ginger-bearded one from Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) is set jump back into the action.

He’ll be bringing back the character Benji Dunn, the lab technician, alongside a rumoured Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Jami Gertz. With the secrecy behind the story by J.J. Abrams and the fact that the move hasn’t yet been greenlit, it’s hard to tell what role Pegg’s character will play. However being reunited with Abrams for a second major Hollywood film (the first being Star Trek), I think it’s safe to say he’ll bring some light humour to the ever-serious Mission: Impossible series.

The fourth part is being directed by Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Iron Giant), who is sure to stir things up at Paramount Pictures. Cruise is also producing alongside Abrams and Paul Wagner, according to THR. Many thought it would conflict with Cruise’ filming of Knight and Day, the upcoming action comedy movie, where he stars with Cameron Diaz. However, with a release date of December 2011, it seems he’ll have perfectly enough time to film yet another action film.