Paramount Pictures and Skydance Productions are moving forward with a sequel to 2012's Jack Reacher, developing the Lee Child novel Never Look Back with Tom Cruise attached to star.

There was speculation that Paramount and Skydance may try to work in the sequel before production begins on Mission: Impossible 5, which is set for release on December 25, 2015. Although Paramount denied that claim, they did confirm that this sequel is on the fast track.

Never Look Back, which was published this fall, follows the title character returning to his old military base in Virginia, where he is set to take the new female commanding officer out to dinner. When Reacher arrives there, she has been arrested, with Jack also facing charges of assaulting a man and fathering a child with another woman. While Jack can't remember either of these events happening, he becomes determined to get to the bottom of both cases.

The studio is currently seeking writers for the project. Christopher McQuarrie wrote and directed Jack Reacher, but he is currently busy prepping for production on Mission: Impossible 5, which starts shooting this summer. However, both Tom Cruise and Paramount are hoping that Christopher McQuarrie will return to direct the sequel after Mission: Impossible 5 wraps. Jack Reacher earned over $218 worldwide from just a $57 production budget.

Tom Cruise may also try to squeeze in Go Like Hell before Mission: Impossible 5 and the Jack Reacher sequel. Joseph Kosinski is directing, with the actor playing Ford Mustang designer Carroll Shelby in this drama about Ford's rivalry with Ferarri in the 1960s at the annual LeMans race.