According to the report, "[the] project is being eyed not only as a starring vehicle for Cruise but also as a possible franchise for the studio." If they're hoping for a franchise, they'd better get cracking -- the actor recently turned forty-four. I'm not being an ageist here. I wanted Clark Kent and Lois Lane to be approaching middle age in Superman Returns, not so wet behind the ears that makeup artists had to chase them around with towels. I happen to like superheroes a little past the Hannah Montana age bracket. But a few years down the line, we'd just be subjected to all the talk of possible replacements for the starring role, and then there'd be the inevitable kid shoehorned into the plot to take his place. Let's just save ourselves the trouble and either pop the movie out quickly, or make it a one-shot for Cruise and let him get on to his next spy thriller.