Keri Russell in MI:3

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If you spend your time watching the Felicity DVDs like I do (what!), then you'll like this bit of Keri Russell news brought your thanks to Coming Soon:

Keri Russell will star in Paramount's Mission: Impossible 3, reuniting the actress with director J.J. Abrams, who created Russell-starrer Felicity.

Russell is set to portray a trainee agent mentored by Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt character in the film, set to begin shooting July 18 in Italy. The role had been filled last year by Scarlett Johansson before the film was delayed.

Ving Rhames will reprise his role as Luther Stickel. Michelle Monaghan, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Philip Seymour Hoffman are also part of the cast.

I guess those Lindsay Lohan casting rumours weren't quite right after all. Didn't Lindsay start those herself?

Let's all just hope that once the publicity-induced TomKat beast implodes, Keri will be smart enough not to be tricked into any Scientology-related Cruise-tastic action.

A ton more Keri Russell Pictures after the jump.