Mission: Impossible 7 has temporarily halted production until June 14 due to a positive COVID-19 test during daily testing onset in the U.K. It is unclear who tested positive and the number of positive tests. Paramount Pictures broke the news of the shutdown in a released statement on Thursday.
“We have temporarily halted production on Mission: Impossible 7 until June 14th, due to positive coronavirus test results during routine testing,” a Paramount spokesperson said. “We are following all safety protocols and will continue to monitor the situation.”
This wouldn’t be the first time that production was halted for the Mission Impossible franchise due to positive COVID-19 testing. The film’s initial setback was due to an industry-wide shutdown back in February 2020, just days before they were set to start shooting in Venice. In October, 12 people on set in Italy tested positive delaying filming for a week. The movie has experienced a variety of date changes for its release date and was initially set to premiere this July. The date then switched to November 2021, and now has a final release date of May 2022.
Back in December, Tom Cruise reprimanded two crew members who were breaking COVID-19 protocols standing too close to each other to look at a computer screen. In leaked audio obtained from The Sun, Cruise is heard holding nothing back in a rant to crew members.
“We are the gold standard. They’re back there in Hollywood making movies right now because of us!” Cruise said. “Because they believe in us and what we’re doing! I don’t ever want to see it again! Ever! And if you don’t do it you’re fired, and I see you do it again you’re f***ng gone.”
Cruise, who not only stars in the franchise but produces them, had gone as far as personally paying over $700,000 for two cruise ships in Norway back in September. The ships housed hundreds of crew members during filming to ensure isolation. Cruise has made it clear through his actions and words that he will continue to be proactive on the measures of safety for keeping this movie afloat.
