Remember when there were those rumours about Paramount looking for fresh young new blood to join the cast of **Mission: Impossible 4, with the idea that they could take over the franchise from Tom Cruise at some point in the future? And remember that The Hurt Locker’s Anthony Mackie was among the possible candidates? You should: it was only a couple of days ago. Well, the studio has gone with someone from Hurt Locker,** **but Jeremy Renner is the man for the job.
Deadline reports that Renner has been picked to take on the prime role of a fellow operative who works with Cruise. While the executives have stayed quiet on confirming whether they were definitely looking for lesser knowns such as Mackie, Kevin Zegers and Chrostopher Egan, it would appear that the plan has been scrapped with the offer now out to Renner. He might not be quite at the top level of international fame yet, but he’s been working for years and **The Hurt Locker **did wonders for his reputation.
And it’s not the only big job he’s been teased with since Kathryn Bigelow sent him to defuse bombs – he signed on to play Hawkeye as part of the ensemble Avengers cast. Or at least he will be if he can reach a deal with Paramount to sign on.
With Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg neotiating deals to appear again, and a shoot planned for Vancouver, Prague and Dubai, director Brad Bird is aiming the film for a December 16, 2011 release date. Better get to work, folks…