Cruise, 'Mission Impossible 3' get go-ahead

LOS ANGELES - Paramount Pictures has given the go-ahead for shooting to start next month on "Mission: Impossible 3," ending weeks of speculation that budget jitters, and the off-screen behavior of star Tom Cruise, might derail the film.

The film, the third installment of a hugely successful action-thriller franchise based on the 1960s television series, is slated for release next May, with production to begin on July 18 in Italy under the direction of J.J. Abrams.

The future of "M:I 3" had been called into doubt recently in several media accounts describing studio executives as nervous about the tremendous cost of the film, which was reported to have climbed past US$150 million.

Adding to their discomfort, Hollywood insiders said, was the image of the film's star and producer, Cruise, who last month raised eyebrows and snickers with a manic, fist-pumping profession of love for actress Katie Holmes on "The Oprah Winfrey Show."

Paramount already is holding its breath for the release later this month of Steven Spielberg's "War of the Worlds," which also stars Cruise and is jointly financed by DreamWorks SKG. That film cost nearly US$130 million to produce.

Studio executives were said to be worried that negative press over Cruise's love-struck behavior, as well as his increasingly public discussion of his religion, the Church of Scientology, might undermine his commercial potential.

But Paramount's commitment to another "Mission: Impossible" sequel was accompanied by a emphatic statement of support for Cruise, who also has an interest in the movie as one of its producers.

"Tom's history with Paramount has made for one of Hollywood's most successful relationships," Grey said. "The opportunity to continue our collaboration with him ... is everything anyone in show business could hope for."

In "M:I 3," Cruise will reprise his role as special agent Ethan Hunt, co-starring again with Ving Rhames. The first two films in the franchise grossed US$456 million and US$546 million, respectively, at box offices worldwide.

Paramount is a unit of media conglomerate Viacom Inc.

- REUTERS