Simon Pegg has signed on for a supporting role in Mission: Impossible III, where he is set to appear as one of the good guys. Initially Empire was aware that Pegg had been offered a role in the film earlier in its shooting schedule, but was unable to accept due a scheduling conflict (see below).
He joins a seemingly ever-increasing ensemble cast that includes Ving Rhames, Keri Russell, Laurence Fishburne, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Billy Crudup, Maggie Q, Michelle Monaghan, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and of course, Tom Cruise.
The film's director JJ Abrams, like most Americans, first noticed Pegg when he starred in Shaun Of The Dead last year, and has been keen to work with him ever since. "His comedic skill is remarkable" said the director in a recent interview. "He's able to be funny while always seeming 100% real, even when he's killing zombies with vinyl records."