Christopher McQuarrie has accepted his mission to direct "Mission: Impossible 5" for Tom Cruise and Paramount. McQuarrie, who directed Cruise in "Jack Reacher" for the studio, was rumored as the front-runner for the "Mission: Impossible" gig since tweeting about the project in February.
"I am thrilled to reunite with Chris for the latest installment in the 'Mission' series," Cruise said in a press release announcing the move. "I began producing the films with the goal that a different director with his own vision would make each one. Chris is an extraordinary filmmaker who will deliver the heart-pounding action and thrills that audiences around the world have come to expect from the 'Mission: Impossible' franchise."
Brad Bird directed "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol," the last film in the popular series. Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton and Simon Pegg all co-starred opposite Cruise in the worldwide smash hit, which earned $694 million around the globe.
Drew Pearce, who wrote the script for "Iron Man 3," will handle screenwriting duties for "Mission: Impossible 5." (McQuarrie himself is a gifted screenwriter, having won an Oscar for writing "The Usual Suspects.")
No release date has been set yet for "Mission: Impossible 5."
