Tom Cruise in 'Mission Impossible III'.

According to Heat Vision, Brad Bird, director of the animated hits ‘The Incredibles’, ‘The Iron Giant’ and ‘Ratatouille’, is in the running to helm the upcoming ‘Mission Impossible IV’.

Based on the 60′s television series, ‘Mission Impossible IV’ will reunite star Tom Cruise with ‘Mission Impossible III’ director J.J. Abrams, who will produce the next installment with Cruise.

Abrams helped develop the story with screenwriting duo Andre Nemec and Josh Appelbaum (‘Alias’, ‘Life on Mars’).

A number of other directors are also being considered to helm the project, including Ruben Fleischer (‘Zombieland’) and Edgar Wright (‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’).

Paramount Pictures is aiming to commence production mid-year, for a May 27, 2011 release date.

Source: Heat Vision