20 Declassified Facts About The Mission: Impossible Series
4. Brian De Palma Had To Get The TV Series' Chief Director Off The Set
The original 1966-1973 TV series had an auteur, the prolific Iranian director Reza Badiyi, who had created most of the original episodes. According to the Directors' Guild of America, Badiyi directed more episodes of TV in his lifetime than anyone else, ever. The head of Paramount made Badiyi a consultant on the new film, which presented Brian De Palma with an awkward situation.
De Palma decided to confront the issue head on. He told Badiyi how much he had enjoyed the TV series, but that the movie would be nothing like it. Therefore, Badiyi's presence on set would only frustrate them both. Badiyi, who still had other directing jobs to pursue, thanked De Palma politely and walked off the project.