From the Official www.TomCruise.com Blog:
Tom Cruise will return as superagent Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible IV, but a director has not been chosen yet. For those of you hoping for J.J. Abrams to return to the director’s chair (he directed Mission: Impossible III), sorry—he’s only executive producing this time around.
So, who will helm the latest installment of this mega-franchise? No one knows as of yet. But we thought we’d take a look at the past three directors and examine the differences in their filmmaking styles:
Mission: Impossible: Brian De Palma
Known for his psychological thrillers like Carrie and Dressed to Kill, as well as graphic violence in gangster films like Scarface, The Untouchables, and Carlito’s Way, De Palma is often considered to be a member of “New Hollywood” generation of directors along with Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, and Francis Ford Coppola. In Mission: Impossible, De Palma made sure to kick off the franchise with lots of over-the-top action and explosions, including helicopters flying in train tunnels and a restaurant fish tank explosion.
Mission: Impossible II: John Woo
Hailing from Hong Kong, Woo’s highly stylized action sequences and slow motion fight scenes are usually prevalent in his action films like A Better Tomorrow, Once a Thief, and Face/Off. There was certainly no shortage of ass-kicking in the second installment, as Woo made sure to include amazing fights, gun play, and a high-adreneline motorcycle chase, not to mention one of Woo’s signatures – white doves.
Mission: Impossible III: J.J. Abrams
Abrams came from the world of television, where he created and produced TV hits like Felicity, Alias, and Lost. After watching DVDs of Alias, Cruise contacted Abrams and asked him to work on MI:3. It was Abrams’ first time directing a feature-length film, but it included all the plot twists, intrigue, and mystery that his work is known for, plus an ensemble cast and a great heist scene in Vatican City, complete with a blown up Lamborghini and speedboat getaway.
Although the job is very much up in the air, we are curious to know what YOU think. Which director has the right combination of smarts, intrigue and action sequence know-how to deliver another knockout installment of M:I?
Much like when we asked you who would make a great leading lady for M:I4, let us know who you think would fit best in the directors chair, should you choose to accept this mission. We’d like you to think of your dream director for the next Mission – who do you want to see in the director’s chair, shooting car chases, explosions, fight sequences, and everything else it takes to create an action-packed summer blockbuster? Let us know on Twitter. Or on our Facebook fan page. Or right here on the Official Tom Cruise Blog! Sound off in the comments below!
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{ 126 comments… read them below or add one }
Ridley Scott or Michael Bay
Altough I love JJ’s work, the best MI was #2, so John Woo would be my best choice
Renny Harlin!
How about Paul Greengrass or Doug Liman?
sir Ridley Scott and/or Tony Scott !
Kathryn Bigelow, of couse man…100%
Tyler Perry, alfred hitchcock, jazzy jeff
think J.J. Abrahms should be the director of MI4. In it Matthew Vaughan and Guy Ritchie would also be excellent choices.
John Woo.
Brian De Palma or James cameron
in re your TWITTER: “We want to know who YOU would like to see as the next director for the epic Mission: Impossible 4! Tell us: http://clicky.me/M14Director”
from (Twitter) LilPeep2U : Quentin Tarantino, Scorsese or let Tom (he knows best by now)
Well, i’d like J J Abrams
James Cameron.
When I think of epic I think of peter jackson. He’s such a great director. He obviously has lots of emotion and imagination and for a film this far into the series, you need someone to keep those two things there.
As a huge Bourne fan, I’d like to see Paul Greengrass do it.
I think MI with a Bourne feel would be totally awesome. Im going to see his new movie-greenzone- tomorrow, really excited, specially as all my friends have told me its epic. “17/10″ seeminly
Joss Whedon.
Christopher Nolan
Well, being a fan of the movies it would be great to see John Woo come back, but J.J. Abrams and Brian De Palma are also great directors. It would be awesome to see how you yourself would be able to pull it off, Tom. But if I had my choice, I’d say John Woo. Just my opinion.
john woo was just perfect and i think it was realy the best one of the three parts
I suggest Steven Spielberg as director for MI IV
How about the director from Valkyrie, Brian Singer. Tom and Brian has worked togheter before.
Or mabye the director from District 9, Peter Jacksons protege Neill Blomkamp. I think it going to bee awsome.
I am unable to put a name to the director for this movie and yet what I would like to add is that he would have to make this one similar to and yet unlike the others with more believability to it that will encompass the script on as many details as possible without being too drawn out to cause the audience to loose interest after 30 minutes of the movie and include all of the action, explosions and finesse and timing to bring this movie to where it need to be. Find a director that has an eye for detail, an eye for high intensity, adrenaline pumping movies that can combine who he or she is into the movie without overshadowing it along with the essence from the others ones then you just may have that blockbuster. Now for the leading lady, she have to be proven in action movies, able to not only carry her role to another level of acting and make it believable she has to be able to deliver without overstepping the role she is playing or doing too much at the wrong time and not enough when it is needed. If she isn’t too proven on any of these areas, she have to be a very quick learner and have the ability to make the role even more convincing to the audience and if she is known and unkown combined, she will have put in some serious work to not only carry her role but to be able to stand alongside the leading man and is willing to add more to the movie just to be able to hold her own.
I would like to see MI focus a little bit more on the tradecraft side of things, the action sequences are epic at times especially in MI2 (still one of the best action movies ever) but the T.V series put a lot of the focus on the finesse involved in being part of IMF – i think that side of it has been missing in large parts of all of the movies – except the vault scene in MI1, don’t get me wrong theres been some cool spy sections but it hasn’t always rung true to my understanding of the show.
As a result i would say that i would like to see Guillermo Del Toro as Director of MI4, he has a great ability to create a surreal but real world if that makes sense, like in Pan’s Labarynth and that would resonate in the world of espionage as espionage takes place in the real world but by people who essentially live on a different and strange plain of existance to most other folk and with Hellboy 2 – The Golden Army he has shown himself capable of some really exciting action sequences that fit within the context of the plot.
He also comes across as a bit geeky and I think theres a lot of the type of details thats been missing from the previous three movies (in relation to the show) that he would have a great eye for as well as the right type of humour to put those things across to modern audience
Thanks for asking…. best action director for MI4 and credentials to show for it:
***John McTiernan -
Predator
Die Hard
The Hunt For Red October
Best Wishes,
Hadel
I think that it should be David Slade cause I can see it being a little more Dark but also with acction if you know what I mean or also Chris Waitz (sorry if I spell wrong i’m bad with spelling names hee hee) but I bet who ever they chose should be great!
Either I want to see Legendary action movie director John Woo again for MI 4..I think he directed 2nd part of MI…He is the best for action….Or you can see another famous action director Micheal Mann…He is one of the best for action movie in Hollywood..So you can call him..Thanks
The Wachowski Brothers. Or J J again. Russian guy Timur who made Wanted maybe.
Most important is story & characters. Abrams nailed it in #3. Come to think of it, yeah, just get J J back!
First and foremost the directors listed above each did a great, and different take on this cool franchise! To take the directors-chair after one of these fine gentlemen is quite a task, but I think that these directors might be up for it:
1. Jonathan Mostow. This guy know action-scenes! I mean look at his work in T3 or surrogates. With a good script I think he could make incredibly tense, and action-packed scenes.
2. Alex Proyas. I think theres lots of potential in this director. He has a great visual style, and know action-scenes aswell. Just look a I, robot!
3. Louis Leterrier. another director with a lot of potential! He creates spectacular and imaginative scenes, all the while keeping them action-packed.
I think mission impossible is a great franchise, and think these directors has what it takes to create an exciting cinematic experience. Consider my picks, I think these guys might pull it off. Looking forward to M:I4
los directores de Mission Impossible I, II y III son grandes directores, puede ser uno de ellos besos tom¡¡¡
Get either James Cameron or Stephen Sommers.
1) Steven Spielberg: The combination of Tom Cruise, J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg would be incredible…. or should I say impossible to pass over as an option.
2) Since Abrams is out…… Chris Nolan as he has been amazingly consistent in relation to quality.
3) Ridley or Tony Scott.
4) James Cameron
I know Mr. Cruise likes to work with the best as well as people he hasn’t worked with before so finally: Paul Thomas Anderson.
I would like MI4 tobe directed by Ridley Scott, he and Tom know each other from Legend, and Ridley is a great director, of course subjectibly i would pick Quentin Tarantino, that’d be fantastic!
CHRISTOPHER NOLAN.
He’s a genius. And I’m not talking batman/Dark Knight here, I’m talking MEMENTO and FOLLOWING.
MI directed by Nolan would be still action packed, but with a richer, brainier plot. Best combination.
Sorry, but its got to be Paul Greengrass…..he is brilliant and original in his viewpoint! Check him out!
Yooooo !
Tom; I’m a HARDCORE fan of you and the Mission Impossible series. I got my $12.50 ready for you right here in New York City. As far as your next director. I say go with Michael Bay.
You can’t lose with Bay and action films.
-frederick pina
p.s. Throw in a few spectacular Imax 3D sequences !!!!
Much Success to you Tom. You’re a great actor & filmmaker !!!!!
RIAN JOHNSON (BRICK and THE BROTHERS BLOOM) should be asked to direct MI:4. There’s not a more visually astute, film-loving, story-forward director around. He’s up to his next film (LOOPER) at the moment, but I’m sure Tom could twist his arm and get him on board.
I think Martin Campbell would be a wise choice, Tom. He’s relaunched Bond twice and certainly knows action. I remember Oliver Stone, Ang Lee and Fincher were linked to my MI3 script years back. They’d be cool too!
J J Abrams again, Antoine Fuqua, Michael Mann, Martin Campbell or Tom Twycker.
Peter Pedrero – stunt director
David Fincher
Paul Greengrass
john Woo Is best of best.
I Love to watch MI4 Directed by Jhon woo
I vote for Ridley Scott. He has directed great action movies as Gladiator, Robin Hood, American Ganster, Kingdom of Heaven, Black Hawk Down and Alien
Tom
I think that our own homegrown Paul Greengrass should direct MI IV. ( Only because he & I are British !! )
He has made some amazing films : Bloody Sunday, United 93 & of course the Bourne series.
Regards
Emma (”,)
i want steven spielberg what about that? they have good chemistry! think about it
Paul Greengrass, from The Bourne Ultimatum. He’s awesome.
Hey, Tom, pleeeeease, say hi for me. I’m @osindicados on twitter and I’m Brazil. We do love you.
beijos
Ridley Scott (Body of Lies w/DiCaprio)
Kevin Macdonald (State of Play w/Russel Crowe)
Both had fab scripts to work with.
Nash Edgerton – check out ‘The Square’.
I would love to see J.J. back as the Director. I absolutely love his work!
Hmmm! .. good question!! ..
well, for me.. I’d love to see Michael Mann! … I love his style! ^_^
Brian de Palma did a good job on the first one Tom, go with what works! Love from Ottawa, Canada!
Why doesn’t Tom direct it himself?(if one would want it done right) I love Sam Mendes, but not sure if this is his kinda gig. John Favreau…did a good job on Ironman…or too much of a competition? Tim Burton??(lol) semi-animated!!! yes…he could pair up with John.
Hmm….so many options.