MISSION IMPOSSIBLE lll

Genre: ACTION / THRILLER

Release Dates: MAY 5, 2006

Official Websites: Visit the Official Mission Impossible website

Taglines: This summer, the mission begins.

Production Company: Paramount Pictures / Cruise/Wagner

Synopsis:
Tom Cruise returns as Special Agent Ethan Hunt, who faces the mission of his life in Mission Impossible III. Director J. J. Abrams (producer of TV’s Lost and Alias) brings his unique blend of action and drama to the billion-dollar franchise.

Recently retired, Agent Ethan Hunt lives a slower-paced life training new IMF agents. With this change, new opportunities enter his life, including a possible marriage to his girlfriend Julia. However, when a new conflict arises, Ethan is called back to duty to confront the toughest villain he’s ever faced – Owen Davian, an international weapons and information provider with no remorse and no conscience.

Crew: J.J. Abrams (Director & Writer); Arthur Anderson (Co-Producer); Tom Cruise (Producer); Stratton Leopold (Executive Producer); Enzo Sisti (Line Producer: Italy); Paula Wagner (Producer)

Cast: Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell, Keri Russell, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bahar Soomekh as Ms. Kari, Laurence Fishburne, Billy Crudup, Simon Pegg as Benji Dunn, Michelle Monaghan, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Maggie Q, Sasha Alexander, Greg Grunberg, Michael Berry Jr. as Kimbrough, Jeff Chase as Davians Gaurd, Barney Cheng as Janitor, Antonio Del Prete as Vatican Video Room Guard, Jonathan Dixon as 7-Eleven guy, Sally Elphick as Mourner at Funeral, Kathryn Fiore, Jillian Fontaine as IMF Council, Diane Gaeta as Brassel’s Assistant, Michael Kehoe as Hospital employee "Mike", Eddie Marsan, Brandon Molale as Torture Guy, Kwame Rakes as Precision Driver VA, James Shanklin as Hospital Priest, John H. Tobin as Vatican Security, Sabra Williams as Annie, Bellamy Young as Rachel, José Zúñiga as Agent Pete

Studio: Paramount

Other Info:

Film Fetish trivia:
Principal photography wrapped on November 29, 2005.

David Fincher was first slated to direct the film but dropped out to produce Lords of Dogtown, which he also dropped out of directing. The storyline of the version he was working on dealt with black market trade of body parts in Africa.

After producers signed J.J. Abrams as the director in August of 2004, MI 3 was abruptly delayed for a year due to Tom Cruise’s commitment to War of the Worlds. Abrams was hired after Cruise saw episodes of the Abrams TV series Alias on DVD and was impressed.

Kenneth Branagh was originally cast as the villain, but because of shooting-delays he had to drop out to begin work on As You Like It. The character was ultimately played by Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Studio filming took place at sound stages at the Paramount studio’s lot, which for the previous 18 years had been used solely for episodes of Star Trek.

Ricky Gervais was cast in the film originally. Due to various production and casting changes, Gervais had to bail and he was replaced by Simon Pegg.

Carrie-Anne Moss was offered a role after Tom Cruise was impressed with her work in Suspect Zero, which he also produced. Director Joe Carnahan then left MI 3, and J.J. Abrams came on board and her character was dropped from the film.

Scarlett Johansson was originally cast in the film, but pulled out.

In early May 2004, it was reported that Tom Cruise requested the German government allow filming in the 40-metre glass dome of the German Parliament building, called the Bundestag. He had earlier visited the building and been very impressed. His request was denied, however, by Parliament President Wolfgang Thierse.

The film’s former director Joe Carnahan was offered the position of director after Tom Cruise was impressed by his work on Narc, which Cruise also executive produced. Carnahan stepped down from the position of director because of creative differences only a month before filming was originally due to begin in August of 2004. His departure delayed the film by a year, while a new director was being sought after. Durting that time, Cruise went on to film War of the Worlds which had its originally intended 2006 release fast-tracked by a year.

Thandie Newton was offered the chance to reprise the role of Nyah Nordoff Hall, but turned it down to concentrate on spending time with her family. Her character was later changed to a new character named Leah Quint (to be played by Carrie-Anne Moss) but when J.J. Abrams took over helming duties, the character was scrapped from the story.