Briefly: The Mission: Impossible series, which has been the signature action franchise for Tom Cruise for almost 20 years (!!!) has been flirting with writer/director Christopher McQuarrie for months. McQuarrie’s career has become quite intertwined with that of Cruise, beginning with their partnership on Valkyrie, which McQuarrie wrote, and continuing on to Jack Reacher, Edge of Tomorrow, and the stalled Top Gun 2.

A tweet today from McQuarrie seems to confirm involvement with the Mission: Impossible series. We’ve heard that he would co-write (with Drew Pearce) and possibly direct the fifth film; at this point we don’t know if the brief message below is confirmation of one job, or both. The safe bet is that McQuarrie is directing; that’s how the message is being taken by the industry at large.

Mission: Accepted — ChristopherMcQuarrie (@chrismcquarrie) August 5, 2013

Updated: Paramount has sent a press release confirming that McQuarrie will direct. Read that below.

PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND SKYDANCE PRODUCTIONS TAP CHRISTOPHER McQUARRIE TO DIRECT THE NEXT MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE

HOLLYWOOD, CA (August 5, 2013) – Paramount Pictures and Skydance Productions announced today that Christopher McQuarrie will direct the next “MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE” film.

McQuarrie will direct from a screenplay by Drew Pearce, with Tom Cruise reprising the iconic role of Ethan Hunt, who was first introduced to moviegoers in 1996. The project will be produced by Cruise through Tom Cruise Productions, Paramount and J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot, who served as producers on previous films in the hit series. Skydance Productions, who served as co-financers and executive producers of the last installment, will work closely with the team in the development and production process.

“I am thrilled to reunite with Chris for the latest installment in the Mission series,” said Cruise. “I began producing the films with the goal that a different director with his own vision would make each one. Chris is an extraordinary filmmaker who will deliver the heart-pounding action and thrills that audiences around the world have come to expect from the Mission: Impossible franchise.”

Added Adam Goodman, President of Paramount Film Group: “The Mission series is special for its signature directors; Chris McQuarrie keeps this tradition thriving.”

McQuarrie recently wrote and directed “JACK REACHER” for Paramount and Skydance, with Cruise in the title role, based on the novels by New York Times bestselling author Lee Child. His screenwriting credits include the upcoming “EDGE OF TOMORROW” and 2008’s “VALKYRIE,” both starring Cruise, as well as “THE USUAL SUSPECTS,” for which he earned an Academy Award® for best screenplay in 1995.

“MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL,” the 4th installment in the globally successful franchise, earned nearly $700M around the world and became Cruise’s highest grossing film to date in his storied career.

The “MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE” franchise has earned more than $2B at the worldwide box office, making it one of the most successful franchises in movie history.