Paula Patton Accepts 'Mission: Impossible 4'

Paula Patton has chosen to accept her next mission, Mission: Impossible 4. She will play the female lead role in the new Mission: Impossible movie.

Patton appeared in last year's acclaimed drama Precious, and was also in the romantic comedy from earlier this year, Just Wright.

She joins M:I franchise star Tom Cruise, who continues his role as Ethan Hunt. Other members of the cast include Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, and Jeremy Renner (Hurt Locker). Making his live-action directing debut is director Brad Bird (Incredibles). Alias writers Josh Abbelbaum and Andre Nemac wrote the script.

Mission:Impossible 4 is scheduled to start filming in early December, and is set to hit theaters December 16, 2011.