Corona | Coming Attractions

In this week's edition of TV Guide there's an honest-to-God exclusive about a sequel to a big action franchise, the actual first solid mention that plans are afoot for a fourth Mission: Impossible film. "I am incredibly honored that Tom has invited me back as producer on Mission: Impossible 4," said Mission: Impossible 3 director J.J. Abrams.

"Tom and I have come up with a really cool idea we are pursuing," Abrams added before closing off the spigot of news.

This is the first mention of active development for M:I 4. After coming off of the wildly successful relaunch of Paramount's Star Trek franchise, Abrams is one of the hottest guys people want to work with now. M:I 3 earned $134 million domestic in 2006 plus another $263m international, making it the least successful film in the franchise financially speaking for the studio. The picture did come out at a time when Cruise's star had been tarnished by a string of social faux pas on daytime talk shows and since then the superstar has had a mildly successful reboot of his own public image. Perhaps now is a better time for an Abrams/Cruise Mission: Impossible film to find bigger success with audiences.