Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two director Christopher McQuarrie reveals how much of the movie has actually been filmed, quelling fears about a potential release date delay. While the latest movie in the franchise is about to hit theaters, continuing the action-packed journey of Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt, work is already well underway on its sequel, which is scheduled to hit theaters in June of next year. This date has recently been called into question, however, due to the ongoing writers' strike and the potential actors' strike.

Following these worries about delays to Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two's release date, McQuarrie now reveals to Collider just how much of the movie has actually been shot. According to the filmmaker, a lot of the sequel is already in the can. Check out McQuarrie's full comment below:

"We've shot all but one of our international locations. We’ve shot our big action except for the biggest set piece, the central set piece of the film, which is massive and unlike anything we've done, and, I think, unlike anything you've seen.

"All the interstitial stuff is shot. There are characters in the movie you don't even know about yet. And I have one—how would I call it? It's a sidebar action sequence involving the team, which we haven't shot yet, and that's first up as soon as we get back. It's involving elements that I've never worked with before. It's a big challenge, and it's a tight schedule. The plan to be wrapped for all principal photography is early next year."

Will Mission: Impossible 8's Release Date Hold?

It was reported last month that production on the sequel was shut down due to the WGA strike that is currently affecting Hollywood. This report was later debunked, however, with Mission: Impossible 8's filming said to only be on pause while the cast and director continue their global press tour for Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. Filming was reported to be getting back underway later this summer, with McQuarrie's latest comment confirming that one big set piece remains in addition to a "sidebar action sequence".

McQuarrie's latest comment comes after he revealed last month that Mission: Impossible 8's ending isn't actually decided yet, but it's unclear if this is still the case. The sequel is seemingly working in a bit of a gray area, then, as a result of the WGA strike. On most productions, figuring out an ending to a film would typically involve on-the-fly updates to a script, but star Rebecca Ferguson recently shared that the Mission: Impossible franchise doesn't really work with scripts.

While the WGA strike may not affect the Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two production schedule, a SAG-AFTRA strike would. It's currently unclear whether this strike will happen or how long it will last if it does, but it would mean that none of the film's key actors would be allowed to work. It's possible that, if this strike happens and lasts for a long time, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two's release date could be bumped back.

Source: Collider