‘Mission: Impossible’: Edgar Wright Doesn’t Regret Turning Down ‘Ghost Protocol’ & Was Worried He’d “F*ck It Up”

[Nergal]

While Edgar Wright has dabbled in action filmmaking before, a little with “Hot Fuzz” and ‘Scott Pilgrim,’ and much more with “Baby Driver,” he has yet to really do something that would be described as blockbuster filmmaking. However, back in the day, it appears Wright was offered the keys to one of the premier action franchises going today—the beloved “Mission: Impossible” film series—but he turned it down. 

READ MORE: Edgar Wright Says Franchises Should “Take a Breather” & Wishes Studio Would Remember ‘Alien’ & ‘Star Wars’ Were Original Projects

Speaking on the Happy. Sad. Confused. podcast, Edgar Wright confirmed the reports about turning down the chance to make what would become “Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol.” This was at the time he was about to begin promotion of “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” and he had to make the massive choice. And though ‘Mission: Impossible’ is a massive franchise, the filmmaker doesn’t regret his decision at all.

“It was literally a timing thing because to do it, I would have to not done the press for ‘Scott Pilgrim,’” explained Wright. “Things are sort of meant to be when they’re meant to be. Sometimes, if you love a series, you almost don’t want to be the thing that could possibly fuck it up. I don’t regret passing on [‘Ghost Protocol’] because Brad Bird’s film was fucking great.”

READ MORE: Edgar Wright Turned Down An American ‘Shaun Of The Dead’ TV Series But Doesn’t Rule Out Other Adaptations

He also mentioned that he has a wonderful relationship with ‘Mission: Impossible’ filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie, and he often gets the chance to consult a bit with him about the films. In fact, he joked about how McQuarrie called him about a musical request for “Top Gun: Maverick.” So, even though Wright didn’t follow through with ‘Mission: Impossible,’ it’s clear he still has a deep appreciation of the franchise and has the ear of the folks involved. 

That said, it would have been really interesting to see Wright’s style at play in the world of Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt. You have to imagine it would have been interesting, regardless of if it was good or bad. Also, there would have been a killer soundtrack.