The ambitious plan to shootMission: Impossible 7and8consecutively is being altered. As the current production ofM:I 7nears completion, Deadline reports that the team will not be rolling right into shootingM:I 8as originally planned.Christopher McQuarrieis writing and directing both sequels, after having become the first director to helm twoMissionmovies with the brilliant one-two punch ofMission: Impossible – Rogue NationandMission: Impossible – Fallout. When he signed on to return – in trueMissionform – it was to up the ante even further by makingtwosequels back-to-back.
But then the pandemic happened.Mission: Impossiblewas one of the biggest productions in the midst of filming when they were shut down, and when they resumed filming last summer it was with strict COVID-19 protocols – ones that franchise star and producerTom Cruisetook extremely seriously.
However, that pandemic delay and the delays caused by COVID-19 protocols mean that Cruise’s schedule is about to be interrupted by press duties forTop Gun: Maverick, and Deadline reports that’s the reason Paramount Pictures has adjusted the filming schedule forMission: Impossible 8. TheTop Gunsequel is on track to be released on July 2nd, and Cruise will be needed for the film’s extensive promotional campaign.
The plan now, according to Deadline, is to begin filmingMission: Impossible 8this summer afterTop Gun: Maverick(on which McQuarrie has a co-writer credit) is released. This also gives McQuarrie time to dig deep into editing onMission: Impossible 7, as the film’s August 21, 2025 release date remains on track.
Although it’s also worth noting here that a break was always intended to make Cruise available forTop Gun 2press duties (originallyTop Gun 2was set to be released last summer, right in the middle ofM:I 7and8filming). McQuarrie and Co. recently wrapped up a round of shooting in Abu Dhabi and are headed back to London to add a few “finishing touches”, but it should be noted that it’s extremely likely some scenes forMission: Impossible 8have already been shot as McQ has been signing his Instagram updates with “#MI7MI8” ever since filming first started in February 2020. All of this to say, perhaps the bulk ofM:I 8still remains to be shot, but this break in production was always planned to occur.
And if Paramount is willing to adjust the filming schedule ofM:I 8to accommodate press duties forTop Gun 2this summer, that seems to suggest they’re bullish on the prospect of theTop Gunsequel hitting its theatrical release date. As the vaccine rollout continues, it looks likely thatTop Gun 2could be one of the first big movies to take advantage of a mostly open (and safe) theatrical rollout.
All told, it’s pretty spectacular that a production this extensive – and this location-heavy – was able to finish up in time to meet the film’s release date, and sinceMission: Impossible 8isn’t set for release until August 15, 2025, there’s plenty of time to get that one in the can even if they get the bulk of filming done later than expected.
Check outMcQuarrie’s Instagram postfor the full update.Mission: Impossible 7also starsRebecca Ferguson,Simon Pegg,Ving Rhames,Hayley Atwell,Vanessa Kirby,Angela Bassett, andEsai Morales.
