After the critical and commercial success of Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, things seemed all set things to get underway for a sixth entry in the spy-thriller action series. However, pre-production hit a snag when Tom Cruise got into a pay dispute with Paramount and production was halted. It was unclear how things would proceed from there, but now it seems like any issues have been worked out and production on Mission: Impossible 6 is back on.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, production for Mission: Impossible 6 is being re-started. Production was originally planned to begin filming in January 2017, but will now instead begin in Spring 2017. Director Chris McQuarrie was just beginning work on the script while the production team was getting ready to start on the visual designs when production stopped. All in all, proceedings weren't damaged too badly from the behind-the-scenes kerfuffle, and the film's eventual release date was most likely not heavily pushed back too heavily.
The pause button was first hit when Paramount (who are co-financing the film with Skydance) entered a monetary dispute with series star Tom Cruise. The film studio allegedly wanted Cruise and some of the movie's producers to "trim their fees." Apparently Cruise wanted Paramount to increase his pay above what he got from Universal for his role in The Mummy. Either way, someone wasn't willing to pony up and production was halted. It isn't clear what agreement Paramount and Cruise reached, but pre-production for Mission: Impossible 6 is back on all the same.
It's not too surprising that Paramount was able to work things out. Tom Cruise has been the star of the series since 1996, so they couldn't really do it without him. Reaching an agreement - or even caving into his demands - was in their best interest, considering the franchise has been both commercially and critically viable.
Not much is known about Mission: Impossible 6, as production is still in the very early stages. Tom Cruise is returning as Ethan Hunt, special agent for the Impossible Mission Force who will have to undertake a dangerous mission riddled with action and cool high-tech gadgets. So far, the only other cast member known to be joining him is Rebecca Ferguson as the MI6 agent Ilsa Faust. Ferguson was the breakout star of Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, with her cool, confident, and kickass Faust, so it's no surprise that she's back for more missions that are (almost) impossible. It's not known who else will be joining the two, but series regulars like Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, and Jeremy Renner are all highly plausible options.
Mission: Impossible 6 will be written and directed by Chris McQuarrie, who reinvigorated the franchise with Rogue Nation. The sixth installment does not currently have a release date.
