Left to right: Director Christopher McQuarrie, B Camera/Steadicam Operator Marcus Pohlus and Tom Cruise (right) on the set of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT, from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

This week, fear spread across Europe as the coronavirus epidemic took hold of Italy with reports of over 150 people being infected by the disease. Milan Fashion Week saw several of its presentation held behind closed doors while major events across the country have been cancelled. Now, Paramount Pictures has announced it has halted a three-week shoot for Mission Impossible 7, citing the Venetian government’s announcement to prevent public gatherings.

“Out of an abundance of caution for the safety and well-being of our cast and crew, and efforts of the local Venetian government to halt public gatherings in response to the threat of coronavirus, we are altering the production plan for our three week shoot in Venice, the scheduled first leg of an extensive production for ‘Mission: Impossible 7,’” Paramount said. “During this hiatus we want to be mindful of the concerns of the crew and are allowing them to return home until production starts. We will continue to monitor this situation, and work alongside health and government officials as it evolves.”

Cruise will continue his film crusade as secret agent, Ethan Hunt for the next two films. The seventh film is slated to release in July, 2021 (however, this may now change) while the eighth and possibly last film will release in August, 2022.

Mission Impossible is not the only film to be affected. Paramount have also announced that Sonic the Hedgehog will have a delayed release in China due to the ongoing Coronavirus scare. “Sonic will only be slowing down his pace temporarily, and we look forward to bringing him zooming onto the big screen in China once it is appropriate to do so.”

Stay tuned for further development as they happen.