“Your MISSION, should you choose to accept it, will be delayed again,” is essentially what Paramount/Spyglass just told Tom Cruise about MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 7 & 8.
It’s not fears about the Omicron onslaught that blame this latest pandemic push, but more the result of COVID having slowed production. The original game plan was to shoot Episodes 7 & 8 back-to-back, but that wasn’t possible since, after #7 finished filming in Sept. 2021, Cruise (pictured) had to start promoting TOP GUN: MAVERICK (also Paramount/Skydance).
M: I 7 was originally opening on 7/23/21 but got pushed to 11/19/21 because of COVID delays while filming. Then COVID bumped to 5/27/22, and Cruise’s TGM was slotted on 11/19. Next, a Delta variant bounce put M: I 7 on 9/30/22 and moved TGM from Thanksgiving to Memorial Day (5/27), where it remains. Now M: I 7’s due 7/14/23, a much better time than late September to launch a brand name superstar-driven action event sequel.
As for Episode 8, back in January 2019, it was going to be a 2022 release. Then in April 2021 Episode 7 was pushed to 2022, kicking #8 to 7/7/23 — about a year earlier than its new 6/28/24 launch date.