Tradecraft: Cruise Control

Variety confirms the story that TV Guide scooped them on last week: Tom Cruise and J.J. Abrams are developing a fourth Mission: Impossible film. Reiterating what we already knew, the trade says, "Tom Cruise and J.J. Abrams have agreed to co-produce the sequel, which is aimed at a 2011 release." Well, maybe the date is new information. But then they concede that it's probably bad intel anyway, as "work on Mission: Impossible IV would inevitably be delayed by the busy schedules of the participants." Variety does go on to provide some useful information about other Cruise spy projects at the story's conclusion, though. First, apparently Wichita, the one he's shooting with Cameron Diaz for director James Mangold, is now officially Untitled. Second, it seems that Cruise is still attached to The Matarese Circle. "Cruise and Denzel Washington are also awaiting a rewrite on the David Cronenberg-directed The Matarese Circle, the MGM thriller based on the Robert Ludlum novel." Forget all the other ones! That's the spy movie I want to see get made, and ASAP!