With rumours continuing to circulate that Tom Cruise may be axed from the forth Mission Impossible movie, leading betting company Paddy Power are taking bets on who will eventually play the lead role of Ethan Hunt in the Paramount cash cow.

Despite the Hollywood rumblings about Cruise and the poor performance of his recent film “Knight and Day” Paddy Power have kept the pocket size action star as their 2/5 favourite to reprise his role as the IMF point man.

Other names on the bookies shortlist include 24 year-old actor/director Shia LaBeouf at 8/1, English-born Aussie actor Sam Worthington at 10/1, and Donnie Darko star Jake Gyllenhaal at 12/1.

Less likely to replace Cruise according to Paddy Power are Brad Pitt at 50/1, Daniel Craig at 100/1 and silken tongue charmer Mel Gibson at 500/1.

Paddy Power said “It’s no secret that Paramount boss Sumner Redstone was far from happy with Cruise in M:I-3 so I wouldn’t be too surprised if IMF have a fresh face next time around”

Who will play Ethan Hunt in M:I-4
2/5 Tom Cruise
8/1 Shia Labeouf
10/1 Sam Worthington
12/1 Jake Gyllenhaal
14/1 Matthew Fox
14/1 Ryan Gosling
14/1 James McAvoy
18/1 Eric Bana
18/1 Robert Pattinson
20/1 Joaquin Phoenix
20/1 Michael C. Hall
20/1 Clive Owen
25/1 Adrien Brody
25/1 Jason Statham
33/1 Nicholas Hoult
40/1 Guy Pearce
40/1 Jude Law
40/1 Johnny Depp
50/1 Rob Lowe
50/1 Brad Pitt
66/1 Hugh Laurie
66/1 Hugh Grant
80/1 Billy Zane
80/1 Simon Pegg
100/1 Kevin Spacey
100/1 Will Smith
100/1 Liam Neeson
100/1 Daniel Craig
500/1 Mel Gibson