Christopher McQuarrie to direct two Mission: Impossible sequels back-to-back

Typically, the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE franchise has welcomed a new director for each sequel, but MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – ROGUE NATION director Christopher McQuarrie changed all that when he returned to helm the excellent MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT. Now, it seems that McQuarrie will be back for not one, but two MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE movies as Variety has reported that he's signed on to write and direct both films.

As MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT has become the highest-grossing and best-reviewed installment of the long-running series, Paramount Pictures knew that they had to keep a good thing going and did all they could to secure the return of Christopher McQuarrie. It's been said that both MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE sequels will be shot back-to-back for releases in summer 2021 and summer 2022. There's no word on when production on the sequels will kick off, but it's been said that shooting could begin sometime later this year. I certainly don't envy McQuarrie's task of having to top himself yet again, but I'm definitely not about to bet against him. Best of luck!

Christopher McQuarrie has previously addressed questions regarding whether or not he'd return for another MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE film, and didn't exactly seem like he'd be up for it at the time.

[FALLOUT editor] Eddie Hamilton, every day in the editing room was like, ‘Come on, man, it’s obviously a trilogy you’re coming back, you have to finish it, you didn’t kill Lane,’ and I was like, ‘It’s somebody else’s problem.’ Tom has asked, the studio has asked, and I was like, ‘You know maybe I’ve got an idea for…’ and then the reviews came out and I was like, ‘Get outta here. Just stop.’ I felt so bad for the director of Mission 6 and I feel even worse of the director of 7. I’d rather have leprosy than be in the position of the person having to confront the pressure of the hyperbole of this movie on their first day of shooting the film. It’s too much to confront. I’d need a long nap before I could contemplate it.

I guess McQuarrie had that long nap and decided he was up for the challenge; that, or he just doesn't want to stop until he's actually killed Tom Cruise. Are you excited for McQuarrie to return for two more MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE movies or were you hoping someone else would step in for the next film?