Producers Tom Cruise and J.J. Abrams, along with Paramount, are serious about “Mission: Impossible IV.”  So much so that they have already hired Josh Applebaum and Andre Nemec to pen the screenplay, according to Variety.

Applebaum and Nemec have long been collaborators with Abrams on his TV endeavors, spending four seasons as co-exec producers of “Alias” with him.

The scribes are the creators of ABC’s new series “Happy Town” and also count “October Road” and the U.S. version of “Life on Mars” as their creations.

While there haven’t been any acting commitments yet, sources say that Ethan Hunt, Cruise’s character from the previous films will make an appearance.

“I’ve been looking forward to working with Josh and Andre again for years,” Abrams said. “Their sense of balance between character and action is wonderful, which I know is hugely important to Tom as well. We’re off to an exciting start, so, as usual, fingers crossed.”

Paramount is aiming for a 2011 release.