The Mission Impossible movies have long favored strong directors intent on remaking the venerable franchise in their own image. Brian DePalma, John Woo and J.J Abrams each out their own indelible stamp on the series (though Woo's entry was a huge disappointment). Now The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Tom Cruise and Abrams (who will produce but not direct) are in talks with another gifted, distinctive filmmaker about directing the fourth installment: animation super-genius Brad Bird of The Incredibles, The Iron Giant, The Simpsons and Ratatouille fame.
According to the article, Cruise and Abrams have also had meetings with the great Edgar Wright (Shaun of The Dead, Hot Fuzz, the forthcoming, much buzzed about Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World) and Zombieland director Ruben Fleischer. The prospect of a third Mission Impossible sequel just got a whole lot more promising/interesting.