Paula Patton Cast In The Next 'Mission: Impossible' Film

Briefly: Last week three actresses were testing for one of the plum female roles in the new Mission: Impossible film, to be directed by Brad Bird with Tom Cruise and Jeremy Renner starring. Lauren German (Hostel: Part II), Paula Patton (Precious) and Kristin Kreuk (Smallville) were all in the running, but now Paula Patton has been handed the part. (As we guess, I might add.)Deadline says she'll play 'a young operative who works with Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt character.' No new info there. The report also reiterates that the film won't be called Mission: Impossible 4, which means we'll now spend some time calling it 'the next Mission: Impossible' until Paramount coughs up a new title.