(25 March 2006 5:00 pm)

MUMBAI: On May 5, the most highly anticipated action-thriller of the summer arrives as Mission: Impossible III hits theaters - and DHL has played a pivotal role behind the cameras.

Paramount Pictures had roped in DHL as its official shipping and logistics partner for the film.

Managing the transportation and logistics for the high-octane action film was no easy mission; DHL was involved in everything from arranging a charter flight from Beijing to Los Angeles to packing, crating, and shipping technical equipment to numerous filming locations in Italy, the US, China and Germany.

The DHL team worked with Paramount Pictures to deliver to movie sets and equipment around the world: six pallets of cars, camera gear, film material, and numerous props were shipped by land, sea, and air with the involvement of all DHL organisational units.

"We are very pleased to be the official shipping and logistics partner for Mission: Impossible III. With decades of experience in this industry, we understand the importance of delivering on time and going the extra mile to make impossible missions possible. Transportation is our core business and our partnership with Paramount Pictures further reinforces our commitment to customers that no matter which industry they are in, DHL is able to provide fast and reliable service to over 220 countries around the world,'" added Deutsche Post World Net executive vice president corporate communications Manfred Harnischfeger.

Paramount Pictures' Mission: Impossible III is directed by J J Abrams and produced by Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner. The screenplay is written by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and J J Abrams, based on the television series created by Bruce Geller. The film stars Tom Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ving Rhames, Billy Crudup, Michelle Monaghan, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Keri Russell, Maggie Q and Laurence Fishburne.