Mission: Impossible 5 is set to restore a familiar face to its ensemble, with franchise regular Ving Rhames in place to join the cast.

Director Christopher McQuarrie broke the news by tweeting, “Welcome back Mr. Rhames”, confirming that his character, Luther Stickell, would be making a return.

Rhames was a regular in the first three films of the series, before sitting out the most recent outing, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, but for a tiny cameo at the film’s end.

Plot details are pretty sketchy at this point, although further casting rumours have recently come to light, with Rebecca Ferguson in line for the female lead and Alec Baldwin wanted for the head of the CIA.

Directed by McQuarrie and co-starring Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner and Simon Pegg, Mission: Impossible 5 will open in the UK on 26 December 2015.