'Mission Impossible 7': Tom Cruise among masked cast and crew seen on set in Italy

The seventh instalment of the action movie franchise is being shot now

Tom Cruise during the shooting of 'Mission: Impossible 7' at Piazza di Spagna in Rome, during the Covid-19 pandemic. EPA

Cruise stands next to a yellow vintage car during the filming of the movie 'Mission: Impossible 7' at the Monti district in Rome, Italy. EPA

Cruise has been filming in Italy since October. EPA

US actor Tom Cruise wears a face mask while talk to a person during the filming of the movie 'Mission: Impossible 7'. EPA

The film is currently scheduled for release in November 2021. EPA

The film is being shot under the working title 'Libra'. EPA

'Mission: Impossible 7' was scheduled to begin filming in Italy and England in February and March respectively. EPA

However but shoots were delayed as the countries went into coronavirus lockdowns. EPA

'Mission" Impossible 7' has been written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie. EPA

For many showrunners and filmmakers, shooting while adhering to social distancing regulations has been a real-life mission impossible. But it does not seem to have stopped the crew behind Mission: Impossible 7.

Tom Cruise et al have been spotted wearing masks on set, as they shoot the film in the Italian capital.

Recent photos show a suited Cruise in Rome's Piazza di Spagna, with a bright yellow vintage car being used as a prop on set.

The cast have been shooting the film, under the working title Libra, in Italy intermittently since early October.

Cruise stars as Ethan Hunt in the action franchise. The film has been written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, who directed Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation and Mission: Impossible – Fallout, the fifth and sixth films in the series. He will also direct the eighth film, which will be shot back-to-back with the seventh.

The film has faced a number of delays owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was scheduled to begin filming in Italy and England in February and March respectively, but shoots were delayed as the countries went into coronavirus lockdowns. In July, they were given permission to start filming in the UK without going through the mandatory 14-day quarantine.

At the time, UK culture minister Oliver Dowden, whose parliamentary constituency Hertsmere is home to Elstree Studios, even contacted the Mission Impossible star to reassure him.

The film is scheduled for release in November 2021.