Alec Baldwin and Rebecca Ferguson in talks for Mission: Impossible 5

By Rick Marshall Published July 14, 2014

The Mission: Impossible movie franchise proved it still had quite a bit of life in it with 2011’s wildly successful Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (which now ranks as the highest-grossing film in Tom Cruise’s career), so expectations are certainly high for the upcoming fifth installment of the franchise, which seems poised to add two more cast members this week.

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According to Deadline, actors Alec Baldwin (NBC’s 30 Rock) and Rebecca Ferguson (BBC’s The White Queen) are in various stages of talks to join the cast of Mission: Impossible 5, the upcoming sequel set to be directed by The Way of the Gun and Jack Reacher filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie.

The site reports that Baldwin will likely portray the head of the CIA in the film, which is based on a script by Will Staples and Iron Man 3 screenwriter Drew Pearce. Ferguson, who recently earned a Golden Globe nomination for her work on The White Queen, will reportedly play the female lead in the film.

While Ferguson’s role in the film seems to be finalized, Baldwin’s attachment to the project is somewhat less official at this point — so things could change between now and when the film begins shooting in August.

If the talks go well, though, the pair will join returning cast members Jeremy Renner and Simon Pegg, as well as franchise star Tom Cruise.

Mission: Impossible 5 is currently scheduled to hit theaters December 25, 2015.

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