Is Brad Pitt, who's currently earning raves for the forthcoming "Babel," eyeing Tom Cruise's sloppy seconds, or more specifically, his flaccid fourths? The London Daily Mail (via London Lite) claims Pitt is being wooed by Paramount to take over the creaky "Mission: Impossible" franchise from the PR-battered Cruise, who was recently handed his walking papers by the studio.

According to a source, the fourth "Mission" installment would get rid of Tom's perpetually on-the-run-from-a-big-explosion Ethan Hunt character in favor of a stalwart new lead.

"They're considering a brief mention, saying Hunt retired to live a safe life with his new wife," maintains the mole. "They're set on Brad taking over as a gutsy new head operative who puts together his own unique team of specialists."

The paper posits that Paramount is so eager to land Pitt for the action flick that it's ready to fork over an unprecedented $40 million up front, which is still a relative bargain when you consider Cruise will reportedly end up pocketing twice that for "M:I3."

"Everything's being kept top secret, but they're offering Brad a deal no one could possibly refuse," continues the mole. "There's no doubt, this would make Brad Pitt the biggest and highest paid star in the world."

Of course, some might argue that Angelina Jolie's baby daddy pretty much has those two titles sewn up and doesn't need to filch a franchise from the guy he shared fang duty with in "Interview With a Vampire."

That contrary camp would likely include Pitt's rep, who insists to MSN Entertainment that the "M:I4" chatter is "totally not true."

Meanwhile, in oddly related news, Cruise's ex-wife Nicole Kidman has received an apology after a paper accused her of taking a potshot at Pitt's poutier half, Angelina Jolie.

The Scottish Daily Record, in a story last week titled "Nasty Nicole," quoted the typically gracious Mrs. Keith Urban as dissing the altruistic efforts of her Oscar-winning peer (not to mention fellow goodwill ambassador and mom of two adopted children).

"It's not like Angelina is any better than a nurse working in a hospital, but she's getting the publicity for her contribution," Kidman was alleged to have said. "I have a friend who is a doctor, and every year he works in Africa for two months for no money. So everyone is on the same playing field, whether you offer your services as the doctor or Angelina does."

On Monday, the paper issued a mea culpa, acknowledging that the actress "did not make those comments to us and we apologize for any upset."

Kidman, who last year helped arrange for Jolie to meet a young Australian cancer patient named Dylan Hartung (his two wishes in life were to beat his disease and meet Angelina), added through her rep that she has "tremendous admiration for Ms. Jolie and her tireless, worldwide charitable work."