Jeremy Renner also stars as an agent that nobody is sure they can trust. It’s been said that he’s being groomed to take over the series from Cruise. He even does Tom Cruise‘s famous hover just inches above the floor move. The kid’s got potential.

Here’s a rundown of some of Hollywood’s smoothest escapes.

The Italian Job

Anyone can just hop in a Mustang and speed over a rising drawbridge to make their escape. But if you want to get away with style, you need a fleet of stupid looking Mini Coopers, the ability to control traffic lights, and exploding streets. Playing chicken with a helicopter adds style points as well.

Quick Change

Now this is a cool plan. Bill Murray dresses up like a clown. Robs a bank and takes hostages. Then he alludes police by simply removing his clown makeup. And despite a lot of setbacks, it works, too. It’s brilliant.

Inside Man

This one lacks the coolness factor of dressing up like a clown, but does have a smooth getaway along the same lines with the disguised bank robbers blending in with the hostages. However, one man builds a little apartment and walls himself in with the loot before casually walking out during business hours a few days later.

Couch jumping and Scientology proselytizing were just warning signs for worse things to come. In this Annie Awards acceptance speech for super-awesomeness in animation, things suddenly get not-awesome for director Brad Bird (The Incredibles, The Iron Giant). First, he retires from animation, then we see Tom Cruise and Simon Pegg holding him hostage, and– wait, Simon Pegg isn’t crazy. Oh, this is just a goofaround.

It’ll be interesting to see what the animation genius has in store for us with the live action Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol this September. The title sounds like a poorly-translated anime, and with producer J.J. Abrams, director Brad Bird and comedian Simon Pegg on board, this project could be a wonderful geek tornado. Just stay away from Tom Cruise’s thetan cleansing machine, Mr. Bird. Unless you want to spend all your Ratatouille money on repairing the roof of the Celebrity Center. (/Film via Vulture)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
While they have many adult fans, the Harry Potter films are for children. Children don’t watch TMZ, so what better way for Mel to slip under the radar than with a cameo in the Deathly Hallows. It’s a great plan, unless Mel’s private church considers it witchcraft.

The Hobbit
A strange man from the wastelands just wandered into The Shire. This will end poorly.

Tron: Legacy
Call me crazy, but I am not excited about Tron: Legacy. Throw Mel into the mix, and you’ll have my attention.

Mission: Impossible 4
The title is officially Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. So why not use the ghost of William Wallace?

Justin Bieber: Never Say Never
This film is the perfect chance for Mel to reinvent himself with a tween audience. The only problem: Jaden Smith.

Captain America: The First Avenger
Since this film takes place during World War II, I bet there’s a role that’s just perfect for Mel.

The Twilight Saga: breaking Dawn
Another film that will allow Mel to break into the tween market, Breaking Dawn also provides Mel with the opportunity for some off-screen high jinks with Robert Pattinson.

The Smurfs
Skin color doesn’t matter to some people. Unfortunately for you blue bastards, Mel is not one of those people.

Rise of the Apes
At the end of the day, if Mel can’t find regular acting work, there are always "motion capture" gigs to fall back on.

While Renner is a great actor, I really don’t understand the logic behind bringing him in. After Knight and Day bombed, it was reported that Paramount wanted a star to help compensate for Cruise’s waning box-office appeal. Is Renner the man for that job? If you really want this thing to be a hit, you need to cast Taylor Lautner or maybe The Situation. That’s how you get asses in the seats, damn it.

According to my super-secret source within Paramount Pictures (by that I mean The Wrap), director Brad Bird and Tom Cruise are about to begin casting for the role of Ethan Hunt’s protégé in Mission: Impossible 4. While nothing is definite, Keven Zegers, Christopher Egan and Anthony Mackie are all vying for the part, although they may be in the running for other roles, as well.

After the failure of Cruise’s last film, Knight and Day, Paramount was anxious to hedge its bets by bringing in another prominent actor to help draw an audience. By that logic, I really don’t see why the studio passed over Tyler Perry. Diary of a Mad Black Warlord or I Can Do Baghdad All My Myself would have killed, and no one would have cared about the bad acting or cheesy plot. (/Film)

Those two crazy cats are at it again.  Tom Cruise and J.J. Abrams have decided to bring Ethan Hunt back for a fourth round of explosions, high-wire acts, and elaborate MacGuffins.  According to Variety, Sumner Redstone and Cruise are in the process of mending fences so they can play in the same Paramount sandbox again.  It’s amazing how the prospect of money heals all wounds.  As far as Abrams’ involvement, he’s not attached to direct this installment of M.I. because he’s working on a kickass sequel to his kickass Star Trek reboot.  But hopefully soon enough we’ll again be hearing Cruise scream "Red light! Green light!" as specks of spittle fly from his mouth.