Paula Patton has been cast in Mission: Impossible, says a report from Deadline.
Patton was rumored to be in the running alongside Lauren German and Kristen Kreuk, but the Precious actor beat out all competitors and will star as a young operative working with Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise).
Deadline also notes that the film will not be titled Mission: Impossible IV, opting to play the sequel up as a reboot of the franchise.
Patton and Cruise join returning actors Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg along with new-to-the-franchise actor Jeremy Renner. Brad Bird (The Iron Giant, Ratatouille) will direct the project as his first live-action feature with cameras set to start rolling this fall.
Mission: Impossible is planned for a December 16, 2011 release.