Latest 'Mission: Impossible' films delayed again
Releasing a movie on time is proving to be a mission impossible amid COVID-19. Both "Mission: Impossible 7" and "Mission: Impossible 8" will be pushed nearly a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, their studio announced Friday.
The seventh iteration of the hit Tom Cruise-helmed franchise will now be postponed from Sep. 30 to July 14, 2023. The next movie, "Mission: Impossible 8," will also be moved as a result, from July 7, 2023, to June 28, 2024.
"After thoughtful consideration, Paramount Pictures and Skydance have decided to postpone the release dates for 'Mission: Impossible' 7 & 8 in response to delays due to the ongoing pandemic," the companies said in a joint statement to ITK.
"We look forward to providing moviegoers with an unparalleled theatrical experience," the statement said.
It's not the first time the films have faced COVID-19-related delays.
Back in 2020, the release of the seventh "Mission: Impossible" movie was delayed from July of that year until December, before moving again to November 2021 and another time, to May 2022.
Last year, filming for "Mission: Impossible 7" was shut down temporarily after a member of the production team tested positive for COVID-19.
Cruise, who stars as spy Ethan Hunt, went viral in 2020 when he was heard yelling at crew members who were breaking coronavirus social distancing guidelines.
"I don't ever want to see it again! Ever!" Cruise yelled in leaked audio, while threatening to get them fired.
