New details have emerged on Brad Bird's Mission: Impossible IV.  For starters, it won't be called "Mission: Impossible IV".  It may not even have "Mission: Impossible" in the title, instead opting for a title similar to what The Dark Knight was to the Batman franchise.  Of course, "The Dark Knight" is one of Batman's many nicknames.  You also have the bat-insignia if there's any confusion.  I don't know how you re-title Mission: Impossible.  Do you call it, "Objective: Unworkable"?  "Goal: Impracticable"?  Do you replace the lit fuse with an egg timer?

So what is not-Mission: Impossible about?  Details are still being kept under wraps, but Variety reports that this will be a reboot of sorts for the franchise.  As we reported yesterday, Jeremy Renner will star opposite Tom Cruise and is being set up to carry the franchise for future installments (although Cruise could also return).  Variety adds that Cruise's character Ethan Hunt will only be working with Renner's character.  That revelation throws into question what capacity Ving Rhames' Luther Stickell and potentially Simon Pegg's Benji Dunn will play in the film.  The next Mission: Impossible/Undertaking: Insurmountably-Difficult is slated to open on December 16, 2011.