Really, though, how much less enthused could this guy sound? You have "no objection" to mustard on your sandwich, or knee socks instead of anklets, or novelty coasters on the living room table. That's all the kind of stuff you don't have really strong feelings about one way or the other. Saying you wouldn't object if someone starred in your movie is more or less like telling your girlfriend you don't mind being seen in public with her. Don't be surprised if it gets you a drink in the face and dumped before dessert.

But it was Redstone who dumped Cruise back in 2006, when the latter was shown the door at Paramount Pictures after fourteen years of the two working together. At the time, Redstone explained the situation by saying that "[Cruise's] recent conduct has not been acceptable to Paramount." Cruise has kept a bit of a lower profile since then (barring that leaked Scientology video), and Redstone does also say in this most recent interview that he thinks of Cruise as a "great actor and a good friend." At the same time, he also makes sure to put the responsibility entirely on Paramount as to whether or not the actor is ultimately hired for the next M:I flick.

So a Cruise-led Paramount movie isn't entirely impossible, but if I were Tom Cruise, I wouldn't be trying on new stunt harnesses just yet, either.