TOM CRUISE has revealed plans to return as Ethan Hunt for a sixth “Mission: Impossible,” asserting that shooting could start as early as a year from now.

    Cruise made the announcement in “The Daily Show,” where he was promoting this week’s launch of “Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation.”

    “We’re starting to work on it now. We’ll probably start shooting it next summer,” he told host Jon Stewart.

    The previous films in the franchise have all been separated by at least four years. All five films in the franchise dates back to 1996 and the other films were released in 2000, 2006 and 2011.

    The “Mission: Impossible” franchise has grossed a combined US$2 billion at the worldwide box office. “Rogue Nation,” which carries a US$150 million price tag, will open in 40 international markets this weekend as well.

    Cruise is also a producer on “Rogue Nation.”

    (SD-Agencies)