LAST UPDATED: 13 November 2000

VZSciFi DataFile: Mission: Impossible Franchise

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Action adventure based (loosely) on the television series. Ethan Hunt and his new IMF force must stop a madman from unleashing a deadly virus that could cause worldwide destruction of humanity.

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In February 2000 Hollywood Reporter revealed Tom Cruise had earned an esitimated cool $70 million from the 1996 Paramount blockbuster, the result of a "shrewdly negotiated" back-end participation deal for starring in and producing the update of the 1960s TV classic, which earned $464.9 million worldwide. Sumner Redstone, CEO of Paramount parent Viacom, revealed the jaw-dropping figure during opening ceremonies for the studio's new German offices in Munich.
Previously: Production delays forced back the film's opening to mid-2000. Production was scheduled to begin on four of the five sound stages 20 March (see below) at Fox Studios Australia, in Sydney, also the location for principal shooting for Star Wars II and III. Fox Studios Australia is a 50:50 venture between Rupert Murdoch's NewsCorp (NCP.and construction group Lend Lease Corp. Since its completion last year, Sydney's Fox studios has produced Babe: Pig in the City and The Matrix.
Cast:  Tom Cruise (who did virtually all of his own stunts), Ving Rhames, Dougray Scott, Thandie Newton, Steve Zahn, Luther Stickell. Six or seven significant roles were expected to goto Australian actors and the film provided jobs for 8,000 extras.
Script:  David Marconi, William Goldman, Michael Tolkin
Producers: Tom Cruise, Paula Wagner
Director:  John Woo
Other Prod Personnel: Post-production took place in the US.
Prod Company:  Cruise/Wagner Prods./Paramount Pictures
Production Notes: Variety reported that although shooting was scheduled to begin March 20 1999, just days after Tom Cruise jetted to Sydney to begin shooting  the film observers began speculating that the film may live up to its name. According to Hollywood Reporter the delay was the result of  layoffs in the studio's construction and art  departments. However, the layoffs were temporary, and the film began shooting a few weeks later. Members of the crew were sent home and the start date was delayed.
Shooting in Australia. Filming was split between the studio (one third) and the city's streets and harbour around the Australian outback town of Broken Hill. Principal photography was expected to be completed by July or August, according to Paramount. One of the prime Sydney locations is the 797 foot tall Governor Phillip Tower.
US Release Date: 24 May 2000
UK Release Date: July 2000
DirtSide Reviews:
We got some very positive reports on Mission: Impossible II. "It's very John Woo, including birds flying in slow-mo and guns akimbo galore, a lot of fun," says one VZSciFi cinema goer.

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Links: The Official Mission: Impossible Site.
Terrific archive site on the original series: The Mission Impossible Home Page
Sources Include: Empire, Hollywood Reporter, Variety. Information welcome!