The fifth installment in Tom Cruise's uber-successful "Mission: Impossible" franchise has had its release date moved up: The flick will now premiere in July, instead of its planned holiday release.

No official reason was given by Paramount for the switch, though perhaps the studio wanted to release the sure-to-be-blockbuster flick in the summer months, when big action movies dominate the box office. It could also want "Mission" to avoid getting swallowed by "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," which opens on December 18, only a week ahead of "M:I 5"'s original Christmas Day release date. (And is directed by J.J. Abrams, who's also a producer on "M:I 5.")

According to TheWrap, "M:I 5" will now go up against the "Point Break" remake, Ryan Reynolds's sci-fi flick "Self/Less," and boxing drama "Southpaw," starring Jake Gyllenhaal and directed by Antoine Fuqua. In exchange for swapping out "Mission," Paramount has selected the animated film "Monster Trucks" to fill "M:I 5"'s December 25 slot.

Cruise returns for his fifth outing in the series, re-teaming with his "Jack Reacher" director Christopher McQuarrie on the project. "Mission: Impossible 5" will now arrive in theaters on July 31.

[via: TheWrap]

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