Mission Impossible-4..The Gift from the Hollywood Hunk Tom Cruise Coming in Early 2011..

“LOST” fans rejoice. Josh Holloway, who played rouge con man Sawyer for all six seasons of the highly celebrated ABC television show, is in final negotiations to join Paramount’s upcoming installment of the Mission: Impossible series. More after the jump.


Holloway’s specific role in the film is being kept under wraps, but he’ll be another addition to the already-impressive Impossible Mission Force, the secret agency spearheaded by Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt. Other members of the team include returning players Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg and newcomers Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton, and Vladimir Mashkov. (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo star Michael Nyqvist recently joined the cast as a villain.)

The Holloway connection is a natural one, since J.J. Abrams (who directed MI: 3) is executive producing the fourth film alongside Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner, and also exec produced “LOST.” Abrams directed the pilot episode of the series, which still holds the record as the most expensive television pilot ever filmed. Abrams also helped craft the story for the as-yet-untitled MI: 4, working with writers Josh Applebaum and Andre Nemec.

The film will be directed by The Incredibles helmer Brad Bird, making his live-action directorial debut. I’m really getting excited about this project based on the casting; I’m certain Holloway’s smart-aleck remarks will balance out the comedic relief section of the film alongside Simon Pegg, and both actors are also capable of pulling off physical performances when necessary.

Paramount has set a December 16th, 2011 release date for the film, which will be filming all over the world very soon.

What do you think of Holloway joining the IMF team? Are you excited about a fourth Mission: Impossible film?