Christopher McQuarrie might be back to direct Mission: Impossible 6

Ghost Protocol invigorated the Mission: Impossible franchise in 2011, giving the saga a much-needed shot of adrenaline that continued into this year with Rogue Nation. One of the summer's biggest blockbusters saw Tom Cruise back in the saddle as Ethan Hunt, alongside his Jack Reacher writer-director Christopher McQuarrie tackling the IMF action series for the first time.

Satisfied with his stint behind the lens, Paramount and Skydance are both eager to see McQuarrie return to the fold as Variety now reports that he is being sought to write and perhaps direct Mission: Impossible 6. While no official statement has been released the site's sources suggest deals are currently going ahead with an eye to getting production started next August. That's a swift move considering the four years between the last two.

Cruise is set to reprise his starring role as Hunt, and it's expected that Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner and Ving Rhames will be back to provide support. One of the newest additions to the MI brand Rebecca Ferguson has an option with the studio to also reprise her role as Ilsa Faust from this year's entry.