Michael Nyqvist to Play Villain in Fourth Mission: Impossible

Casting News, News

The entire town of Hollywood is in a state of Dragon Tattoo mania. After Stieg Larrson’s “Millennium Trilogy” became a worldwide success, it spawned a successful trilogy of films starring Michael Nyqvist and Noomi Rapace. Up until now, Rapace’s name was the one being batted about for a number of different American films. Paramount even wanted her for the fourth Mission: Impossible. (Instead, she’ll be starring alongside Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law and recently announced Stephen Fry in the sequel for Sherlock Holmes.)

Without Rapace’s involvement, Brad Bird and the rest of the creative minds at work on Mission: Impossible 4 have been looking for a suitable adversary. Already, the cast is set to include Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg. New additions so far announced are Jeremy Renner and Paula Patton.

The Hollywood Reporter’s Risky Business blog has confirmed that Michael Nyqvist has landed the villain role. The article insists that Nyqvist is not the main villain, but will play “one of the lead villains.”

Nyqvist sure has a lot to live up to after Philip Seymour Hoffman’s performance (post Oscar win for Capote) in the third Mission: Impossible. A lot will depend on his amount of screen time, especially if there are multiple adversaries involved. The casting choices made so far by director Brad Bird and producer J.J. Abrams look sound, and I’m intrigued to see what will become of the franchise if indeed Jeremy Renner takes a leadership role of the team and Tom Cruise reverts to a managerial position.

Production on M:I 4 will happen later this year. Paramount has already slotted the film with a December 16, 2011 release date, which marks the first time the franchise has had an installment not be released in the month of May.

Travis Leamons is one of the Inside Pulse Originals and currently holds the position of Managing Editor at Inside Pulse Movies. He's told that the position is his until he's dead or if "The Boss" can find somebody better. I expect the best and I give the best. Here's the beer. Here's the entertainment. Now have fun. That's an order!