Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re aware that Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation has been a big hit. It’s such a big hit, in fact, that plans for Mission:Impossible 6 are already underway. Most of the time when sequels are on the agenda the plan is to bring back as many of the people who made the previous film a success possible - however, in the case of this franchise, that may not be the case. Part of Mission: Impossible's continued success has always been a new director putting a new stamp on the movie, and this is something that director Christopher McQuarrie has recognized
Uproxx Movies interviewed Rogue Nation director Christopher McQuarrie and asked him if he would be interested in returning for another movie in the hit action franchise. While he wasn’t fully against the idea, he also said that it may not be the best thing for the series. He explained
First and foremost, one of the things that people love about this series is that it’s a different director for every chapter. And they are very, very challenging movies to make and, with each movie, it becomes more challenging for the next person. And when I was watching Tom on the side of the A400, the first thing I said when he landed was, ‘Boy, I feel sorry for the next director.’
One of the most interesting aspects of the Mission: Impossible series is that each installment has been so very different. This began right out of the gate when the series swapped Brian De Palma’s intrigue and mystery for John Woo’s highly-choreographed action sequences (and doves). It really showed how far Paramount was willing to let different directors make very different films out of the franchise.
Not only have we seen five very different Mission: Impossible movies, but the studio has also given chances to directors that would not normally be considered for big budget blockbusters. Mission: Impossible III was the first movie J.J. Abrams had ever directed. Yeah, there was a time when Abrams wasn’t the first name you thought of when you needed a major franchise handled. When Brad Bird was given the reigns of Ghost Protocol, he’d only ever directed animated features.
For the most part, the formula has been successful. Mission: Impossible 2 is the weak link when it comes to critical acclaim, but it’s not a reviled movie by any stretch. All the films have been financially successful as well. Although, in the case of Mission: Impossible III that’s just barely true. The last two films have now been runaway hits with both critics and fans, which has now led to an apparent game of one-upmanship among directors. It's hard to tell if Christopher McQuarrie wants to see another director take over, or just see what amazing thing they can do because he's afraid he can't out-do himself.
So, would you like to see McQuarrie return for another run, or should the tradition continue of letting another director make his mark with Mission: Impossible?
