Tom Cruise was pictured deep in conversation with his Mission Impossible 7 director on Wednesday, days after 12 people on set reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.
The Hollywood superstar, 58, wore a mask as he spoke to Christopher McQuarrie and other crew members, before shooting photographs on the terrace of his Venice hotel.
At the end of last week, it was claimed the movie could be hit by further delays due to fears over a COVID-19 outbreak on set in Venice, with reports on Monday suggesting 12 people had tested positive on set.
Health chiefs are said to be tracing the contacts of those who tested positive after filming was suspended, dashing hopes it was an isolated case.
It is yet another blow for the action movie franchise after filming was suspended earlier this year during the first European wave of coronavirus when cases rose sharply in Italy.
Crisis talks? Tom Cruise was pictured in conversation with his Mission Impossible 7 director on Wednesday days after 12 people on the set of the movie reportedly tested positive for COVID
The actor and the director, who worked together on previous Mission Impossible movies and Jack Reacher in recent years, were deep in conversation at their luxury base in the city, days after the situation came to light.
Dressed in a black sweater and face mask, Tom looked despondent as he gazed out at the view.
According to a report in The Sun on Friday, 150 extras for Mission Impossible 7 were informed that they were not to come in to shoot scenes that were on the filming schedule for Thursday evening.
While no official reason was given for the sudden decision, it was claimed a coronavirus test had come back positive from the production so filming needed to be suspended temporarily.
A source speaking to the publication claimed: ‘There are about 150 extras involved in the filming and late on Thursday they were all told not to turn up for work and they would be notified when they would be allowed back on set.
Break in filming: The Hollywood superstar wore a mask as he spoke with Christopher McQuarrie amid reports filming has been halted again
What now? Tom and Christopher, who has worked with Tom on previous Mission Impossible movies and Jack Reacher in recent years, were deep in conversation at their luxury base in the city while a photographer shot pictures
Outbreak: According to a report on Friday, 150 extras were informed that they were not to come in to shoot scenes that were on the filming schedule for Thursday evening
‘No official reason has been given but it’s feared it’s down to COVID and this will be the second time the production has been hit because of the virus.’
Crew also urged members of the public to remain socially distanced from one another while waiting to see the stars, while Tom and director Christopher are also said to have made the request.
On Monday, The Sun reported that health chiefs are tracing contacts of at least 12 people to test positive form the set after filming was suspended, dashing hopes it was an isolated case.
MailOnline has contacted Paramount Pictures and Tom Cruise’s representatives for comment.
Star: While no official reason was given for the sudden decision to not include the extras, it was claimed that a coronavirus test had come back positive from the production
Frustrating: Filming was already delayed for months after Covid-19 spread across Italy, where production had been based in March, leading the release to be pushed to November 2021
Filming was suspended in Venice last week after the first case emerged but according to Monday’s report producers hoped it would be an isolated case, and shooting could start again over the weekend.
It’s thought that filming has yet to resume however as health chiefs scrambled to track and trace contacts of the multiple people to test positive.
A health official said: ‘It is important that we track and trace all of the contacts of these people to keep the infection under control.’
The Sun reported sets were seen being dismantled in the city’s Palazzo Ducale earlier this week, while there’s been no sign of any filming taking place in recent days.
Concerns: A source said of the incident: ‘No official reason has been given but it’s feared it’s down to COVID’ (Tom and co-star Hayley Atwell pictured filming in Rome earlier this month)
Multiple cases: On Monday The Sun reported that health chiefs are tracing contacts of at least 12 people to test positive form the set after filming was suspended
Halted: Filming was suspended in Venice last week after the first case emerged but according to Monday’s report producers hoped it would be an isolated case
Earlier this year, filming for the upcoming action movie was halted in Italy after cases of coronavirus rose sharply.
The crew and actors headed to Norway to film ever since, before returning to the Italian capital to continue with scenes once it was safe to do so.
It was reported this summer that Hollywood legend Tom hired a £500,000 ship for the film’s crew in Norway to avoid any coronavirus-related delays.
The filming had already been delayed for months after COVID-19 spread across Italy, where production had been based in March, leading the release date to be pushed back to November 2021.
Still in work mode: Tom as pictured with a camera in hand on the terrace on Wednesday evening
Disaster: It’s thought that filming has yet to resume this week as health chiefs scramble to track and trace contacts of the multiple people to test positive
Another piece of bad news: Earlier this year, filming for the upcoming action movie was halted in Italy after cases of coronavirus rose sharply
In Italy: The crew and actors headed to Norway to film ever since, before returning to the Italian capital to continue with scenes once it was safe to do so
Still here: Tom and the rest of the cast and crew have remained in Venice this week despite the reports of an on-set outbreak
‘They are terrified of further delays. Tom is determined not to see any more hold-ups. The studio believes it will keep everyone safe and get this shoot wrapped up’, a source told The Sun earlier this summer.
It was recently claimed that Tom was ‘exempt from Norway’s quarantine rules’ as he restarted filming in the Scandinavian country.
The media personality revealed how ‘excited’ he was to start shooting the latest instalment of the franchise in a phone call with Norway’s Minister of Culture Abid Raja.
Simon stars as IMF technician Benji Dunn in the Mission Impossible franchise, reprising his role for the fifth time in the much-anticipated upcoming movie.
Mission Impossible 7 will be released on November 19, 2021.
Delays: The film is scheduled for released on November 19 2021
