Production on Mission: Impossible 7 has shut down in the UK due to a positive COVID-19 test from a member of the production team. Plot details for the upcoming seventh installment in the Tom Cruise-led franchise are still scarce at the moment, but Christopher McQuarrie has returned as the writer and director of both the seventh and eighth installments of the franchise. Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, and Vanessa Kirby are also returning to star alongside Cruise’s Ethan Hunt. Several newcomers have joined the cast as well, including Marvel’s Peggy Carter actress, Hayley Atwell, Rob Delaney, and Cary Elwes.
Mission: Impossible 7, like many other upcoming films, has seen several delays already due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, and has seen its release date bumped from July 2021 to November 2021. The release of Mission: Impossible 8 was also delayed as a result, moving from August 2022 to November 2022. Now, production on the film has unfortunately been delayed once more.
As reported by Deadline, Mission: Impossible 7 has paused its production because a member of the production team recently tested positive for Covid-19. Reportedly, the production has been shut down for 14 days, and the necessary safety practices are being adhered to. Paramount also released the following statement regarding the film’s production shutdown:
We have temporarily halted production on Mission: Impossible 7 until June 14th, due to positive coronavirus test results during routine testing. We are following all safety protocols and will continue to monitor the situation.
Reports of this latest shutdown comes after the recent news of Cruise ranting at the Mission: Impossible 7 crew for not respecting the Covid-19 safety protocols that had been set in place. Cruise stressed the importance of safety and social distancing on set as well as the consequences that would come if the protocols were not followed. So, it is certainly unfortunate that the production has found itself shut down yet again, just months after he addressed those issues without holding back.
Hopefully, production will resume again after the next 14 days as scheduled. Having been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic several times already, Mission: Impossible 7 needs luck on its side as they attempt to wrap it up before November. The film is highly anticipated by fans who are eager to see the results of Cruise’s impressive stunt work as well as the return of the franchise’s familiar faces. While Cruise’s intense rant that made headlines is definitely understandable, hopefully no one on the team actually loses their job and the team follows the protocols so that this can be the last time Mission: Impossible 7 sees a delay.
