Cruise takes boat, bike, subway to plug Mission: Impossible 3

Tipped as one of the summer's biggest blockbusters, Mission: Impossible 3 is to have its US premiere at the Tribeca film festival in New York on May 3. The screening will follow a bizarre, meticulously choreographed photo opportunity that will involve its star, Tom Cruise, using a variety of transportation to dash between several locations in the city, before arriving at the Ziegfield theatre moments before the film begins.

The 43 year-old star will start the day by appearing live in MTV's Times Square studios in midtown Manhattan. From there he will be accompanied by a film crew as he tours the city on a motorbike, a speedboat, a taxi, a helicopter, sports-car, and the New York city subway, before riding the final stretch on the back of a donkey as adoring acolytes throw palm leaves across the street.

Actually, we may have made that last bit up, but you get the general gist. "Tom has always enjoyed finding new ways to connect with fans," said his long-term producing partner, Paula Wagner.

Directed by JJ Abrams, Mission: Impossible 3 co-stars Ving Rhames, Philip Seymour Hoffman and British comic Simon Pegg. It opens globally on May 4.