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Wednesday Feb 26, 2003

'NARC' DIRECTOR TO LEAD CRUISE IN 'MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 3'?

Paramount Pictures is trying to recruit 'Narc' director Joe Carnahan to take the helm of action franchise 'Mission: Impossible 3', following the elimination of David Fincher from the project.

The studio is in negotiations with Carnahan over the third installment with Cruise again starring as agent Ethan Hunt.

Carnahan won strong notices for writing and directing recently released 'Narc', with Cruise and Wagner signing on as producers and helping to persuade Paramount to release the film.

The enthusiasm over Carnahan's handling of the gritty cop thriller led to his recent attachment to direct the Paramount/DreamWorks co-production of 'Killing Pablo', the tale of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar.

Fincher, whose credits include 'Panic Room', 'Fight Club' and 'Seven', had been attached to 'Mission: Impossible 3' since early last year but recently committed to direct 'The Lords of Dogtown', centering on the surf and skate culture that took root in the 1970s, for Sony.

In choosing Carnahan, Paramount execs continued to opt for different directing styles in the 'Mission: Impossible' franchise. The first installment in 1996 was helmed by Brian DePalma and the second by John Woo.

The first 'Mission' grossed $454 million worldwide; 'Mission: Impossible 2' tallied $546 million worldwide in 2000.

Robert Towne remains attached to pen the script for 'Mission: Impossible 3'. Dean Georgaris, who penned the 'Lara Croft' sequel, 'Paycheck' and 'The Manchurian Candidate' for Paramount, also has been mentioned as a likely scripting candidate recently.

Paramount still has a May 2004 release date for 'Mission: Impossible 3', though several other tentpole films are also due out in the same month, including Universal's 'Van Helsing', Sony's 'Spider-Man' sequel and Warner Bros's 'Troy'.


"I think they want me cos I make Cruise look even more handsome."


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