Deadline.com is reporting that 'Precious' actress Paula Patton has landed the lead female role in the fourth installment of the 'Mission: Impossible' franchise.

The Los Angeles native will play a young operative who works with Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt character. The website also stated that the film will not be called 'Mission: Impossible 4.' Cruise and J.J. Abrams, who hatched the project together, always envisioned it as a franchise reboot. The film begins production in the fall, with Brad Bird directing Cruise, who'll co-star alongside Jeremy Renner, of 'The Hurt Locker,' who landed the other hotly contested role.

Patton, who was recently cast as the new assistant district attorney for the NBC drama series 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit,' apparently beat out actresses Lauren German and Kristen Kreuk for the coveted spot.

Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg are also returning to the franchise.

Patton, who is married to singer-songwriter Robin Thicke and gave birth to their son, Julian Fuego, in April, just completed shooting the romantic film 'Jumping the Broom.' Directed by Salim Akil ('Girlfriends'), the film also stars Angela Bassett, Laz Alonso, Mike Epps, Loretta Devine, Meagan Good, Tasha Smith, DeRay Davis, Julie Bowen, Romeo Miller, Gary Dourdan, Pooch Hall, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Valarie Pettiford.

Her last film, 'Just Wright,' which starred Queen Latifah and Common comes out on DVD on Sept. 14.

The new 'Mission: Impossible' is planned for a Dec. 16 release.