Hollywood's Action Cinema Direction After 'Mission: Impossible' — What Lies Ahead?
In a sequel that marks a potential end for the iconic franchise, Ethan Hunt and the Mission: Impossible series are set to conclude with The Final Reckoning. As speculation surrounds the future of the franchise, the question on fans' minds remains: What's next for the action-spy series synonymous with Tom Cruise?
Cruise, who has been the driving force behind the series for nearly three decades, has reaffirmed his commitment to playing Ethan Hunt until his heart stops beating. While rumors circulated during Ghost Protocol that Jeremy Renner might take over as the lead if Cruise stepped away, the veteran actor has remained the face of the franchise. Since Ghost Protocol, Cruise has shared the screen with accomplished co-stars like Rebecca Ferguson, Hayley Atwell, and Henry Cavill, each of whom has contributed to the franchise's ongoing search for a potential successor.
Each newcomer has been introduced as a foil or mirror for Ethan Hunt, resulting in action-packed scenes designed to impress audiences and demonstrate their capabilities as potential leads. Whether the writers' intent is to hint at a new protagonist or not, the likelihood of a new face taking over, even if it involves a collaboration, seems unavoidable. In The Final Reckoning, the formula continues with Ethan Hunt conducting a deep-sea stunt to investigate a shipwrecked submarine while his team battles Russian special forces elsewhere.
Should Cruise persist in leading the films, the franchise could continue in this manner, with new characters handling shootouts and fistfights while Ethan performs his trademark death-defying stunts. Alternatively, if Cruise's deal to develop and produce films for Warner Bros. allows it, Paramount could potentially keep the franchise going without him for a few films, giving audiences time to miss Ethan while becoming invested in a new or returning cast of characters. This would pave the way for a fitting return for Cruise and the studio, creating an exciting legacy sequel reminiscent of Top Gun: Maverick's impact.
If Cruise chooses not to return, there may be room for a new wave of action-spy movies, as the genre appears to be experiencing a vacuum following the decline of major franchises like Jason Bourne and James Bond. With such a gap, any director or actor could have an opportunity to make a name for themselves in the action genre.
Several talented actors have shown interest in action roles, such as Dev Patel, Simu Liu, and Florence Pugh, who recently performed a daring stunt in Marvel's Thunderbolts. The current generation of actors seems eager to engage in physical, practical action, as evidenced by Cruise's advocacy for younger actors to study classic films and his creation of separate boot camps for his co-stars. A focus on practical actions has long been a strength of Mission: Impossible, and it seems that several actors, like Pom Klementieff, are taking Cruise's lessons to heart.
Reflecting audiences' desire for authentic, captivating action, the future of action movies lies in the hands of studios and creatives, who will decide whether to allow actors to deliver the heart-pounding, tactile experiences that audiences crave. The end may be near for Ethan Hunt and the Mission: Impossible franchise, but there is much anticipation for what lies ahead in the world of action cinema.
Gizmodo might post an article on the potential successor to play Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible series, as Tom Cruise has expressed his intention to continue portraying the character until his heart stops beating. I09 might also discuss the actors and directors who could potentially fill the void left by Cruise, considering the action-spy genre appears to be experiencing a vacuum following the decline of major franchises like Jason Bourne and James Bond. Movies-and-tv enthusiasts could look forward to watching the new wave of action-spy movies, as several talented actors like Dev Patel, Simu Liu, and Florence Pugh have shown interest in such roles.
