Variety has word that an olive branch of sorts has been publically offered up to Viacom's studio outcast Tom Cruise.

Viacom superboss Sumner Redstone was asked about the possibility of Cruise returning for a Mission: Impossible IV and indicated that he wouldn't stand in the way, calling Cruise "a great actor and good friend" but explained that the ultimate decision was up to Paramount.

Cruise was forced out of the studio in 2006 for "behavior unacceptable to Paramount" (He's crazy, in case you hadn't heard) and the fate of a fourth impossible mission (likely even more impossible than the last) was left up in the air.

Talk around town is that Cruise is in need of a hit after the lackluster Lions for Lambs and the no-confidence move of Valkyrie to a February spot.

It's funny to think that, just a few years ago, Cruise was the long-rumored top choice for Iron Man. I think in retrospect, we're all very, very glad that never came to pass.

Click here to check out Variety's original story.