Tom Cruise is set to return in a fourth “Mission: Impossible” film, a move that had once seemed unlikely after the actor’s acrimonious 2006 split with Paramount, reports said Thursday.

 

The Hollywood Reporter and Daily Variety reported that Cruise, 46, was being lined up to co-produce a new instalment about the elite band of spies from the Impossible Missions Force (IMF), and could reprise his role as Ethan Hunt.

 

The three previous “Mission: Impossible” films — derived from the 1960s television series — have taken more than 1.4 billion dollars worldwide since the first picture was released in 1996.

 

However a fourth film starring Cruise was deemed unlikely after the actor ended a 14-year association with Paramount in 2006.

 

The split generated worldwide headlines after Sumner Redstone, the chief of Paramount’s parent company Viacom, criticized Cruise, saying his “unacceptable” behavior had contributed to the company’s decision.

 

However Redstone opened the door to a reunion last month when he said he would not be opposed to Cruise returning for a new “Mission: Impossible” film.

 

“I consider Tom Cruise a great actor and a good friend,” Redstone told Variety. “And if Paramount decides to move ahead with him, I will not object.”

 

Cruise was most recently seen in World War II drama “Valkyrie.”