Mission: Impossible Sequel Halts Production Amid Ongoing Writers Guild Strike

Production of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two has faced a setback and has now been halted due to the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike, as reported in the latest issue of Empire Magazine. The sequel, approximately 40% completed, has been affected by multiple delays, some related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Empire interviewed writer/director Christopher McQuarrie, who discussed the challenges that have slowed down the Mission: Impossible franchise in recent years. The WGA strike has had a significant impact on McQuarrie’s work on the film. In the interview, McQuarrie expresses his frustration with the delays, stating (via Slashfilm), “It’s unrelenting… Behind each tsunami is another tsunami. We live in a state of 24-hour tsunami awareness. That’s just what we do.”

An earlier strike report by Deadline suggested that the film was already in post-production. However, reshoots and rewrites are common in this franchise known for its pursuit of perfection. In another statement to Empire, McQuarrie acknowledged that at the time of a publicized motorcycle stunt, the context had not been fully developed. McQuarrie describes writing as “a living, breathing thing.”

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is scheduled to be released this summer, while the sequel was initially planned for a June 2024 release. The Empire feature does not provide further information regarding the release date. The financial impact of the writers’ strike on the franchise remains unclear.

The premiere of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is set for July 12.