Which Hurt Locker Star Will Play Opposite Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible IV?

For a movie that grossed less than $20 million at the box office, The Hurt Locker sure has done well for stars Jeremy Renner and Anthony Mackie. Renner has already been cast as Hawkeye in The Avengers, while just this week it was revealed that Mackie -- who is also co-starring in the Hugh Jackman sure-to-be smash Real Steel -- was testing to star as Tom Cruise's protege in Mission: Impossible IV. So, did Mackie get the job?

Nope! According to Deadline, Paramount has chosen his Hurt Locker co-star Renner to play the young agent in Brad Bird's film, with the possibility that the actor could take a larger role when the series heads for movie five. Paramount production chief Adam Goodman was apparently sold on Renner because of his "Daniel Craig quality" and canceled the tests with Mackie, Kevin Zegers and Christopher Egan. Presume that negotiations are ongoing.

Meanwhile, one has to wonder if this casting will have any impact on Renner's ability to co-star in Paul Thomas Anderson's long gestating-but-not-yet financed Scientology film, The Master.

Developing...

· Exclusive: Paramount Picks Jeremy Renner to Co-star with Tom Cruise in 'Mission: Impossible 4' [Deadline]