# Mission Impossible 9 Is Happening — And Chloé Zhao May Be Behind the Camera With Tom Cruise

URL: https://technosports.co.in/mission-impossible-9-is-happening-and-chloe-zhao/  
Published: 2026-02-20  
Updated: 2026-02-20  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

Just when audiences thought Ethan Hunt had finally hung up his disguise kit for good, Hollywood drops a plot twist worthy of the franchise itself. Oscar-winning director **Chloé Zhao** is reportedly in early talks to write and direct the ninth instalment of the [Mission: Impossible](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission:_Impossible_(film_series)) franchise alongside **Tom Cruise** — and if true, this could be the most exciting shakeup the series has ever seen.

## Mission Impossible 9 + Chloé Zhao

| Detail | Info |
| --- | --- |
| **Franchise** | Mission: Impossible |
| **Rumoured Film** | Mission: Impossible 9 (MI9) |
| **Rumoured Director** | Chloé Zhao |
| **Star** | Tom Cruise (as Ethan Hunt) |
| **Source** | Anonymous tip via Deux Moi gossip outlet |
| **Previous Director** | Christopher McQuarrie (MI4–MI8) |
| **Tom Cruise’s Last MI Film** | Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (MI8) |
| **Chloé Zhao’s Current Film** | *Hamnet* — nominated for 8 Oscars incl. Best Picture & Best Director |
| **Official Confirmation?** | None from either party |

## Wait — Didn’t Tom Cruise Say MI8 Was the End?

![Mission Impossible 9](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image-1254.png)

Yes, he did. Cruise had repeatedly described *Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning* as the conclusion of Ethan Hunt’s story — and bade an emotional farewell to the character at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. So when a fresh tip surfaced via Hollywood gossip outlet Deux Moi claiming that Chloé Zhao had been workshopping a treatment with Cruise and a script was already underway, it genuinely caught everyone off guard. The anonymous tip suggested Cruise himself reached out to Zhao — which, if accurate, speaks volumes about how much he believes in what this new direction could look like.

For more Hollywood franchise updates, check out our [latest entertainment coverage at Technosports](https://technosports.co.in).

## Why Chloé Zhao Is Such a Fascinating Choice

This isn’t just a random director swap. Chloé Zhao is fresh off *Hamnet*, an acclaimed historical drama starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal that has earned 8 Oscar nominations — including Best Picture and Best Director for Zhao herself. Before that, she made history with *Nomadland*, winning both the Academy Award and the BAFTA for Best Director. Bringing her lyrical, deeply human storytelling sensibility to a globe-trotting spy thriller would be genuinely unlike anything the franchise has done before. The franchise has always had great action — what it might gain with Zhao is real soul.

## What Happens Next?

As of now, there is no official confirmation from either Tom Cruise’s team or Chloé Zhao. The tip remains unverified and both parties are currently focused elsewhere — Cruise on his Alejandro G. Iñárritu drama *Digger*, and Zhao on her awards campaign for *Hamnet*. Fans and film industry observers will be watching closely for any official word.

Stay tuned to [Technosports](https://technosports.co.in) for all the latest Mission Impossible 9 updates as they develop, and follow our [Hollywood news section at Technosports](https://technosports.co.in) for more.

## FAQs

### **Q1. Is Mission Impossible 9 officially confirmed with Chloé Zhao as director?**

 No — as of now, there is no official confirmation. The report originates from an anonymous tip shared by gossip outlet Deux Moi, and neither Tom Cruise’s team nor Chloé Zhao has publicly addressed it.

### **Q2. Who directed the previous Mission Impossible films before MI9 rumours?**

Christopher McQuarrie directed four consecutive Mission: Impossible films (MI4 through MI8), making him the longest-serving director in the franchise’s history before these new talks emerged.