Mission: Impossible 5...with Tom Cruise?

Now you all remember last year when word was getting around that Paramount was thinking about giving Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt character the boot after the newest Mission: Impossible, right?  You know, how they were looking for a new lead to carry on the franchise (Jeremy Renner ain't exactly a spring chicken) and that by the end of this film whether due to death, retirement, career change, whatever, Tom Cruise was going to be finished with the franchise he practically built.

Well, seems things might have changed.

With Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol opening in IMAX theaters next Friday, actor Simon Pegg (who plays the character Benji Dunn in the film) spoke exclusively with Moviehole recently, and gave out this bit of information regarding the speculation that Renner is to take over the franchise from Cruise:

“I think that might have been the plan earlier on, but as the film progressed and we enjoyed it so much I think the idea of Ethan Hunt retiring fell by the wayside. Tom [Cruise] suddenly remembered why he loved doing these films so much and suddenly thought ‘well maybe I do want to do more?’.”

Hmm...so did Tom Cruise suddenly change his mind?  Or did Paramount maybe realize the guy is still a major movie star who is the face of the franchise and that Jeremy Renner possibly isn't the next big thing everyone in Hollywood thought he would be (remember Colin Farrell about ten years ago?).

Whatever the case may be, the film looks (and from what I hear, is) phenomenal and I'll be sure to catch it in theaters when it opens next week.