Mission Impossible: Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie to reunite for two back-to-back films in spy-thriller franchise

Los Angeles: Mission Impossible fans can rejoice. After the blockbuster success of Rogue Nation and Fallout, Christopher McQuarrie is returning to write and direct two more films in the franchise.

Tom Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie. Image via Twitter

Tom Cruise, who has earned a reputation for his death-defying stunts in Mission Impossible films, is expected to return as Ethan Hunt. The superstar confirmed the release year of the films in a tweet.

McQuarrie became the only director in the franchise's history to return for a second time with 2018 film Fallout after helming 2015 Rogue Nation. According to Variety, the films will be shot back-to-back, much like the final two Avengers films Infinity War and Endgame. Although no start date has been confirmed yet, the shooting for the films is expected to begin sometime in 2019.

Fallout was met with unanimous praise from the critics for its upscale action sequences even though Cruise ended up breaking his ankle while shooting a jump scene.The film made $791 million worldwide.

The espionage-thriller franchise, which began in 1996, follows the missions of the (Impossible Missions Force) IMF's main field team under the leadership of Hunt, who is forced to take over after the team is betrayed from within during the first film.

(With inputs from Press Trust of India)