The Hurt Locker star Jeremy Renner's Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol casting was a bit of a whirlwind - he landed his role as Tom Cruise's sidekick just three hours after turning down a part in J.J. ABRAMS' SUPER 8.
Renner reveals he was originally invited to play a widowed dad in the blockbuster, but had to tell the director he didn't think he was the right choice for the part.
But Abrams wouldn't let him leave his office - because he had another major role for the star.
He tells Entertainment Weekly magazine the director asked him if he'd meet Cruise right away.
Renner recalls, "I went from turning down one movie to getting Mission: Impossible in three hours."