Cruise & Abrams' MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE IV Has Writers Now...

Merrick here...
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE IV is closer and closer to reality with the hiring of two writers.

Paramount Pictures and producers Tom Cruise and J.J. Abrams have officially lit the fuse on "Mission: Impossible IV," setting Josh Applebaum and Andre Nemec to write the screenplay. [EDIT] Applebaum and Nemec spent four seasons with Abrams as co-exec producers of "Alias," and they will script "M:I 4" based on a story Abrams wrote with them. [EDIT] Applebaum and Nemec are the creators of the new ABC series "Happy Town" and previously created "October Road" and the U.S. version of "Life on Mars" for ABC.

...contextualizes Variety HERE. No word on whether J.J. wil return to direct this installment, although it's certainly a possibility. We should note that J.J. is also developing the next STAR TREK film. While it's assumed he'll return to direct that project (and has openly expressed a pointed interested towards this end), he hasn't formally committed to doing so - which'll be determined to some degree by his reaction to Orci, Kurtzman, and Lindelof's not-yet-delivered script. All of which might impact his (directorial) return to M:I - which, who knows? - may not be caling him too loudly to begin with. More as we know more...