Iron Man 3 scribe to write Mission: Impossible 5

Drew Pearce, the writer who co-penned 'Iron Man 3', has been hired to write the forthcoming 'Mission: Impossible 5'.

Pearce also recently penned Guillermo Del Toro's big budget monster movie 'Pacific Rim', and is also currently working on the third of Guy Ritchie's 'Sherlock Holmes' films.

[Related story: McQuarrie to remake Ice Station Zebra]
[Related story: Tom Cruise for Mission: Impossible 5]

It follows news that writer/director Christopher McQuarrie is the most likely candidate to take on the directorship of the film.

It also follows the arguably more vital announcement that Tom Cruise is now officially signed on to play Ethan Hunt for a fifth outing.

McQuarrie and Cruise have long been tight, having worked together on 'Valkyrie' and then on the recent screen adaptation of 'Jack Reacher'.

McQuarrie is also said to be lining up to write and direct a remake of 70s thriller 'Ice Station Zebra'.