Unwilling to once again give Tom Cruise complete control of Mission: Impossible 4 (as evidence by incorporating Jeremy Renner into the mix), executives have decided to throw Paula Patton into the film as the female lead. A source close to the film says producer J.J. Abrams and director Brad Bird aren’t looking to rely on Patton to help “reboot” the series, but are hoping her role as an up-and-coming agent who tags along with Cruise’s Ethan Hunt will be enough to offset anything Cruise does that’s less than desirable.
In the past, we’ve seen Hunt surround himself with both female acquaintances and lovers, so Patton's relevance to the plot has yet to be known (or even rumored). However, since she’s so good at reminding us that Robin Thicke’s songs are full of lies (because instead of snorting cocaine from inside the closet he’s off being the father to her baby), she’s certain to nail whatever she’s given.
Patton most recently played Queen Latifah's sister in Just Wright, but she was also in Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire, where she played Precious' teacher, Ms. Rain. Any role in a Mission: Impossible would most likely catapult her somewhere positive (other than the one she's occupying with Alan Thicke's son, of course).
Source: EW