Pre-production on Mission: Impossible 6 has been delayed because of Tom Cruise’s wage demands.
Paramount Pictures and the A-list star are reportedly at an impasse over the actor’s fee, while writer-director Christopher McQuarrie pens the screenplay.
THR reports that Cruise wants the studio to match his deal over at Universal, where he is being paid a prince’s ransom to star in the big budget reboot of The Mummy.
The last installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise, Rogue Nation, was a box-office hit grossing $680 million worldwide from a $150 million budget in 2015.
Indeed, the series is in rude health after the fourth installment, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011), directed by Brad Bird, grossed $694 million globally and was critically acclaimed.
As Deadline points out, there is no way Cruise will not be featured in the sixth movie. The M:I franchise is his star vehicle, and the Paramount will have to compromise.
According to THR, a source close to Mission: Impossible 6 said that ‘script issues’ delayed the project further in July with the studio putting off production until November. Paramount had hoped to release the film in late-2017 but have now halted the development to deal with Cruise’s demands.
If the picture goes ahead, McQuarrie will be the first director to helm two M:I projects. The Usual Suspects screenwriter directed Rogue Nation after collaborating with Cruise on a number of projects, including Valkyrie (2006, which he wrote) and Jack Reacher (2012, which he directed).
We expect this to be resolved very soon. Stay tuned for more news on Mission: Impossible 6, including possibly plot details, co-stars and a release date.
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