Tom Cruise eyes new 'Mission: Impossible'

June 17, 2009 Abrams directed Cruise in the third installment of the TV-derived franchise, which grossed $395 million worldwide in summer 2006. [...] the future of the franchise was thrown into doubt -- at least in terms of Cruise's participation -- after Viacom topper Sumner Redstone discontinued his studio's long relationship with the star three months after the movie opened. Rumors circulated last year about a Paramount exec suggesting that Cruise would do well to merely produce another sequel and reboot the franchise with a younger star.

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