New Cast Member for MI:3

Originally Published: June 23, 2005

Keri Russell has joined the cast of the upcoming Mission: Impossible 3, reuniting the actor with the film’s director J.J. Abrams (creator of Alias and Lost), whose Felicity TV show first brought Russell widespread acclaim, Variety reported. Russell will portray a trainee agent mentored by Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt character in the movie, which is set to begin shooting July 18 in Italy. Russell steps into the role that had been slated for Scarlett Johansson before the film was delayed and scheduling conflicts forced Johansson to drop out.

Paramount officially gave the green light to M:I 3 last week. Cruise and his partner Paula Wagner are producing the film.

Russell joins a cast that includes Ving Rhames, Michelle Monaghan, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers and Philip Seymour Hoffman, the trade paper reported.