"We have to do it safely and protect our colleagues, but it is definitely possible"

Film and TV productions have been put on halt for months now due to the current health crisis. But it seems shooting is starting up again for some major titles. As reported yesterday, Avatar 2' is recommencing production in New Zealand later this month. Now the next chapter of 'Mission: Impossible' is following suit.

'Mission: Impossible 7' and its follow-up (as with the 'Avatar' films, incidentally) are being shot back to back.

A cast and crew member on the upcoming action flick have both confirmed September is when filming will resume. (fingers crossed)

First assistant director Tommy Gormley said they'll be filming "a big chunk of it back in the UK on the backlot and in the studio."

He added "we hope to visit all the countries we planned to."

Gormley reckons they'll wrapped by May, 2021. This means the first movie should make its new release date of November 19, 2021.

The AD said on BBC Radio 4’s Today program: "We hope to start shooting again in September. We were days from shooting in Venice - we were right at the epicenter when it all kicked off - so we had to shut down in Venice where we were four or five days from shooting."

He admitted there will be challenges to overcome in order to adhere to these new health and safety measures.

He also noted: "We have to get back to work for every person in the film industry, tens of thousands of us, we have to get back to work. We have to do it safely and protect our colleagues, but it is definitely possible and we're working flat out to make it happen."

Simon Pegg, one of the stars of the upcoming movie, also mentioned the September start date.

"That will begin with the outdoor stuff," Pegg told Variety. "That feels fairly doable, and obviously there will be precautions put in place."

'Mission: Impossible 7' stars Tom Cruise and is written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie.

According to The Sun, Cruise is building a covid-free village on a former RAF base in Oxfordshire to accommodate filming. VIP Winnebago trailers for the cast will be incuded.

The source says: "It will mean some of the world’s biggest stars all living together in a posh campsite while working alongside the rest of the team.

"It’s pricey but Tom always does things bigger and better than anyone, and there’s a hell of a lot riding on this film.

"The 'Mission: Impossible' movies are all massive box office successes and the studio is right behind getting this back on track."