Brad Pitt has been lined up to replace Tom Cruise in the next Mission Impossible film. It is a move that will make Pitt the highest-paid actor in Hollywood history.

Paramount Pictures, the company behind the franchise, ended their long-running partnership with Cruise and is planning to install Pitt in the lead role.

The firm is determined to keep the lucrative series alive after Mission Impossible:III took £212million at the box office, with the previous episode taking £290 million.

An insider told London Lite: “MI:IV will not include Cruise’s character, agent Ethan Hunt.

They’re considering a brief mention, saying Hunt retired to live a safe life with his new wife.

“They’re set on Brad taking over as a gutsy new head operative who puts together his own unique team of specialists.”

Sources say Paramount is prepared to do whatever it takes to get Pitt on board, and is even willing to make him the highest-paid movie star in history, with a salary topping £21 million.

“Everything’s being kept top secret, but they’re offering Brad a deal no one could possibly refuse. There’s no doubt, this would make Brad Pitt the biggest and highest paid star in the world.”