Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation was a surprise hit this year at the box office and with both audiences and critics. In the year of subterfuge, which saw films such as Spy with Melissa McCarthy, the big screen return of Man From U.N.C.L.E and of course the latest Bond instalment Spectre hit cinemas around the world, screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie managed to hold his own with the fifth outing for Tom Cruise agent character Ethan Hunt. Now according to a report by Variety, McQuarrie may well be returning to write the sixth instalment of the MI franchise.
Mission: Impossible: Rogue Nation has grossed $682, 252, 025 worldwide with box office opening weekend takings of $55, 520, 089. The film saw Tom Cruise reprise his role as Ethan Hunt, a special agent as part of the Impossible Mission Force (IMF). Hunt has gone rogue to counter the Syndicate, a rival organisation to the IMF, whilst back at home his colleagues face redeployment when the IMF is disbanded following a government investigation. Now a fugitive from the CIA, Hunt calls in favours from his IMF team mates William Brandt (Jeremy Renner), Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) and Ving Rhames (Luther Stickell). Together, along with femme fatale Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) they work to bring down the Syndicate.
Christopher McQuarrie penned the film as well as directing, having previously worked with Cruise on films such as Edge of Tomorrow, Jack Reacher and Valkyrie. According to the report by Variety sources close to the film state that McQuarrie is close to making a deal. This would make Mission: Impossible history as the first time two of the films have shared the same director, assuming McQuarrie also directs this instalment. There are also talks that Rebecca Ferguson will return in her role as Ilsa Faust alongside Cruise as Ethan Hunt. J. J Abrams is set to return as producer in number 6, which is currently set for a 2017 release date.
