As production on the action movie is halted again due to a positive COVID test, there are talks among crew members that the lead actor could be the cause of the delay this time.

• Jun 26, 2021

AceShowbiz - Tom Cruise may be the one to blame for the latest delay in "Mission: Impossible VII" shooting. As filming on the action movie has been put on a halt again due to a positive COVID-19 test, it is suspected that it could be the lead actor/producer who caused the postponement this time.

"Filming on 'Mission: Impossible 7' is on hold again because of coronavirus," a source tells The Sun. "And this time, those working on the production have said they think Tom could be the possible cause of the postponement."

Of why all fingers were pointed at Cruise, the source explained, "Everyone on the set was told that filming was being stopped again because of a positive test. And since then, Tom hasn't been on set once." The source continued, "Now people are speculating that he could have come into contact with the person who tested positive. And in some cases, people are even gossiping and saying it could be him."

Still, the source noted that there's no evidence to confirm the speculation as of yet, "Obviously there is no proof of that but it's not stopped people ­gossiping about it. It's now become a joke on set, with people saying how ironic it would be if Tom was the reason they had to press pause again."

Neither a representative for Cruise nor the studio has spoken up on the reports of the latest delay. Earlier this month, the production was shut down for two weeks after several crew members tested positive for COVID-19, leaving the Ethan Hunt depicter "fuming" over it.

"Tom is absolutely fuming about what's happened, especially given his rant to his staff last year," a source told The Sun at the time. "It's going to badly affect filming and they'll be playing catch-up when they finally come back."

"Fourteen crew members have got COVID - most of them are close aides of Tom's," the source went on sharing. "The whole shooting crew, about 60 people, have all had to self-isolate for 14 days."

Cruise was reportedly exposed while filming a scene in a nightclub. He was reportedly "within a couple of metres" of four women dancers, who contracted the virus along with ten other set workers.

The numerous delays reportedly caused "a huge pressure to finish on time." A source told the U.K. tabloid, "Tom and the team are tearing their hair out. Some of the crew are agency contractors and are already booked to move on to new projects. Without them, Tom will be left scratching around for replacements. And if that wasn't enough, he has his own scheduling conflicts."

"Mission: Impossible 7" is currently still scheduled for a May 27, 2022 release.