because I haven't made sequels of films, and I never really thought of these films as sequels
Dude, you seriously need to come out of your delusion and face reality. Whatever your interpretation of "sequel" is, it ain't the same as the rest of the world. The MI movies are, in fact, sequels. And you have, in fact, made sequels. Just because you say otherwise doesn't change that fact, regardless of how many E-readings or Purification processes you do. Or what your Thetans are telling you.

it's a city I've always wanted to shoot in
Read - it's a new recruiting ground for Co$!