Paramount Pictures has signed a two-picture deal with Australian actor-director John Polson, who stars alongside Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible 2.

The first project under the deal is an untitled New York-set dark comedy from scriptwriter William Mapother, which is housed at Cruise's Cruise-Wagner Productions.

Polson has a high profile in Australia despite only having directed one picture, Siam Sunset, which made $412,000 (A$700,000) when it was released by UIP last year. He is best known as founder of short film festival Tropfest which has developed into a significant event in Sydney's film calendar.