Tom Cruise's 'Mission: Impossible 8' release postponed to 2025—here's why
The release date for Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible 8 has been pushed back to May 23, 2025, Paramount Pictures has reportedly revealed. This decision comes as a result of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, which has brought the film's production to a standstill. If the actors' union and studios fail to reach an agreement soon, many other high-budget films could face similar delays. Along with the MI setback, Paramount has rescheduled a number of other movies.
Factors attributing to delay of Ethan Hunt's epic drama
The delay in the release of the eighth installment of the Mission: Impossible series comes as no surprise, given the considerable time required to resume its production. The ongoing actors' strike—which has now crossed 100 days—has made it clear that finishing this massive actioner before the next year was nearly impossible for director Christopher McQuarrie and his team. Production on the film came to a halt back in May when the Writers Guild of America (WGA) initiated their strike.
Quick recap on why film/TV actors are on strike
On July 14, SAG-AFTRA—the union representing film and TV actors—initiated an indefinite strike. With this, SAG-AFTRA members joined their writing counterparts, the WGA that was already on strike since May 2. The latter ended in September. The disputes between the actors's union and the industry stakeholders encompass a wide range of issues. These include disagreements over a fair share of streaming revenue, the incorporation of AI (artificial intelligence), and changes to pension and health contributions, among others.
'MI 8' to get new title, exclusive IMAX run: Report
MI 8 will also reportedly debut in theaters under a new title, as Paramount and Skydance have decided to drop the second part of its previous name, Dead Reckoning Part Two. The follow-up will pick up directly after the events of 2023's Dead Reckoning Part One. The franchise's eighth installment is being filmed using IMAX cameras and will enjoy a three-week exclusive IMAX run. This came after Mission: Impossible 7 lost its IMAX screens rapidly due to Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer.
'A Quiet Place' prequel moved to summer 2024
In light of these changes, Paramount has also shifted the premiere of A Quiet Place: Day One, a prequel to the 2018 post-apocalyptic blockbuster, from March 8, 2024, to June 28, 2024. Starring Lupita Nyong'o, the movie is set in the same universe as director John Krasinski's A Quiet Place series. This installment will reportedly showcase an alien invasion in New York City.
'IF' moved up, untitled 'SpongeBob SquarePants' movie delayed
Meanwhile, Krasinski's fantastical comedy IF, featuring himself, Ryan Reynolds, Alan Kim, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, has been advanced from May 24, 2024, to May 17, 2024. This adjustment allows the family-friendly film to avoid competition with Memorial Day releases such as Garfield and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. In contrast, an untitled animated SpongeBob SquarePants escapade has been pushed back from May 23, 2025, to December 19, 2025.
