Keri Russell will star in Paramount's Mission: Impossible 3, reuniting the actress with director J.J. Abrams, who created Russell character Felicity.

Russell is set to portray a trainee agent mentored by Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt character in the film.

The role was originally intended to be played by Scarlett Johansson, but she cancelled her plans due to delays in movie shooting schedule.

Mission: Impossible 3 officially started off just last week after Paramount studio reached a deal with executive producers Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner to cut down the budget and adjust Tom Cruise's profit participation deal.

There were rumors that making Mission: Impossible 3 might become actually impossible due to its swollen budget.

The New York Times also reported that Tom Cruise's increasingly erratic behavior of late was cause for concern among higher-ups at Paramount and DreamWorks, the two studios behind Cruise's upcoming War of the Worlds.

Now that casting is complete, green light is given. Mission: Impossible 3 will begin shooting in Italy next month.

Mission: Impossible 3 is slated to open in theaters on May 5, 2006.

Keri Russell’s other film credits include “The Upside of Anger” and “Mad About Mambo”; she is most famous for her TV series “Felicity” and “Into the West.” 

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