McQuarrie says M:I:7 & M:I:8 need to swallow the last three movies whole

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

The MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE franchise has welcomed a new director to the helm for each sequel, but that all changed when MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – ROGUE NATION director Christopher McQuarrie returned to direct MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT. That sequel wound up becoming the franchise's biggest commercial and critical success, and Paramount is clearly hoping to keep the train rolling as they've tapped McQuarrie to write and direct not one, but two more MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE sequels.

Christopher McQuarrie is all too aware that MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT will be a extremely tough act to follow, and he told Empire that he's a little freaked out at the prospect. "I pitched the idea of making two movies, and now I have to justify why it’s two movies," McQuarrie said. "You’ve got to earn that. You’ve got to make something that swallows the last three movies whole. I’m freaked out now. We’ve talked ourselves into something. Holy shit." McQuarrie likely wouldn't have returned if he didn't have some genius idea of how to tackle the next two films, so I've got faith that he'll deliver something grand. As Tom Cruise's stunts have grown more and more elaborate as the franchise has continued, I'm going to be somewhat disappointed if MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 7 or 8 don't find Ethan Hunt in space at some point, but McQuarrie addressed that, saying, "Here’s the problem with going to the moon: how do you fall from the moon?"

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 7 and 8 will be shot back-to-back and are slated to be released on July 23, 2021 and August 5, 2022.