UPDATE: I was just contacted by a representative of Paramount Pictures to let me know that thankfully there is no truth to the rumor that follows. Often times ridiculous stories like this never turn out to be true and to even think Paramount would pay Pitt that kind of money following the money issues with Cruise certainly seemed silly. If you are still inclined to read the article feel free.
Mission: Impossible III made $133 million at the domestic box-office and was considered a bust. Since then Tom Cruise was given his pink slip from Paramount Pictures and if you believe this new rumor coming out of This is London of all places then Brad Pitt is the frontrunner to replace cruise in M:I IV!
The site reports the following:
An insider told London Lite: “MI:IV will not include Cruise’s character, agent Ethan Hunt.
They’re considering a brief mention, saying Hunt retired to live a safe life with his new wife.
“They’re set on Brad taking over as a gutsy new head operative who puts together his own unique team of specialists.”
Sources say Paramount is prepared to do whatever it takes to get Pitt on board, and is even willing to make him the highest-paid movie star in history, with a salary topping .
In case you aren’t a currency converter (like me) £21 million is $37,580,000, which is a chunk of change I can’t see anyone turning down even if it means Pitt would be indirectly stomping all over Cruise.
Word is that Pitt is impressing the studio up and down as his Plan B production company, which has a little distrib deal worked out with Paramount, won a heated bidding war against Leonardo DiCaprio’s production company for Max Brooks’ upcoming horror novel, “World War Z.”
A source told the site, “Brad is showing the studio what he’s made of… Everyone is very impressed… Everything’s being kept top secret, but they’re offering Brad a deal no one could possibly refuse. There’s no doubt, this would make Brad Pitt the biggest and highest paid star in the world.”
I am beginning to believe I am the only one that believes Tom Cruise is not such a bad guy and is still a great actor. There have been very few films Cruise has been in that I did not like and while the same goes for Pitt I just don’t see this idea flying.
If you have an opinion on the matter let it be known below.
