Two films starring Tom Cruise have been delayed due to a spike in COVID-19 cases caused by the Delta variant in the US.

Top Gun: Maverick was originally going to arrive in November this year but instead it has been pushed back to May 2022, Studio Paramount said.  

Mission: Impossible 7 was due to arrive in May 2022 but it has been moved to the following September.

Paramount has also pushed back the release of comedy Jackass Forever from October to February.

Hereford Times: Tom Cruise. (PA)Tom Cruise. (PA)

The moves come as the US experiences another wave of COVID-19 as a result of the more transmissible Delta variant, with studios fearing the virus’ re-emergence will keep customers away from cinemas.

According to official figures, the daily case average in America was 160,041 on Tuesday.

New films being released soon

Despite Delta’s impact in the US, UK and Europe, film fans have major releases to look forward to over the coming weeks.

The long-awaited arrival of the new James Bond film, No Time To Die, is set to be over as it is released in September.

October also brings excitement with Dune, The Many Saints Of Newark and The French Dispatch being released next month.

Top Gun: Maverick, a sequel to the 1986 action original, will see Cruise, 59, reprise the role of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell.

Mission: Impossible 7 will once again see the Hollywood star as special agent Ethan Hunt.

Both films have been repeatedly delayed amid the pandemic.