Despite parting ways with Paramount Pictures, Tom Cruise may just be given the starring role in the next film in the "Mission Impossible" franchise.

Sumner Redstone, Chairman of Viacom, the parent company of Paramount, said that he has no objections to casting Cruise as Ethan Hunt but the final decision lies in the hands of Paramount President Brad Gray.

Paramount ended its 14-year professional relationship with Cruise in August 2006, kicking him off the studio lot and ending their lucrative deal to develop projects for the studio.

The studio blamed Cruise's controversial behaviour - which includes jumping on the couch, declaring his love for then-girlfriend, now wife, Katie Holmes on the popular talkshow "Oprah" - for the split.

Based on the TV series of the same title, "Mission: Impossible" first hit theatres in 1996 and became the third highest grossing of the year. It was followed by two sequels, "Mission: Impossible II" in 2000 and "Mission: Impossible III" in 2006.

Cruise has not hit box office gold since his departure. His first project with United Artists, "Lions for Lambs," which also starred Robert Redford and Meryl Streep, grossed just US$59 million.

Their second collaboration, "Valkyrie", a thriller based on the assassination attempt of Adolf Hitler, is set for release in 2009.


- CNA/il