Well, we likely won’t be getting a Jack Reacher franchise due to disappointing returns for Paramount, but that’s not stopping star Tom Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie from teaming together again. Despite Cruise’s busy schedule, he always has room for another Mission: Impossible film, and considering Brad Bird‘s Ghost Protocol did record business for the series, the studio has been eager to round up the crew for another one. We got word last fall, well over a month before Reacher even hit theaters, that McQuarrie was being considered as a director for the fifth film in the series and now he’s confirmed to be taking the mission. Check out his tweet below.

Deciding to accept. “@leeroy_nitro: @chrismcquarrie G’day mateJust wondering if your confirmed to direct Mission Impossible 5 yet?”

— ChristopherMcQuarrie (@chrismcquarrie) February 5, 2013

Continuing the pattern of a new director each iteration, he would be following the steps of Brian De Palma John Woo, J.J. Abrams and Bird. While Reacher didn’t show much flair in terms of action, McQuarrie did provide a fun throwback style and taking the reigns here, he would follow nicely in the steps of Bird. Cruise has proven he has enough in him to carry on the character of Hunt, so I wouldn’t expect him to hand the torch over to Jeremy Renner‘s character just yet, but we’ll be intrigued to see what McQuarrie brings to the table.

Are you looking forward to McQuarrie’s take on Ethan Hunt?