Hollywood's Action Cinema: Post-'Mission: Impossible', What Lies Ahead?
After nearly three decades, the "Mission: Impossible" franchise, led by Tom Cruise's iconic Ethan Hunt, is approaching its end with the upcoming film "The Final Reckoning." As the series reaches its latest installment, questions surrounding the future of the franchise have resurfaced.
Tom Cruise has been synonymous with the series, consistently demonstrating his dedication to the movies. While rumors spread about the possible departure of Cruise and the potential replacement of Jeremy Renner's character, William Brandt, he has remained the undisputed heart of the franchise. In recent years, Cruise has shared screen time with other key characters, including Rebecca Ferguson's Ilsa Faust, Hayley Atwell's Grace, and Henry Cavill's August Walker.
Throughout the series, these co-leads have been presented as potential successors to Cruise, displaying their action skills and serving as foils for Ethan Hunt. As Cruise has aged, the possibility of a new protagonist taking the helm seems increasingly likely, even if it means a division of roles, with the new character focusing on shootouts and fist fights, while Ethan continue to execute death-defying stunts.
"The Final Reckoning" showcases Ethan Hunt gathering a new team before he splits off to investigate a shipwrecked submarine, while the rest of the team battles Russian special forces on St. Matthew's Island. Given Cruise's commitment to the series, this structure could set a precedent for future installments if he chooses to lead the films until his body dictates otherwise.
Cruise recently secured a deal to develop and produce films for Warner Bros., including projects with Alejandro González Iñárritu and the potential for an "Edge of Tomorrow" sequel. Should Cruise agree, Paramount could potentially keep "Mission: Impossible" going without him for a few films, allowing audiences to miss Ethan before becoming invested in a new or returning set of characters. This arrangement could culminate in a proper event when Ethan returns, marking a significant moment for both Cruise and the studio.
In the absence of a defined successor, other action stars have emerged, teetering on the brink of taking over the genre. Following his directorial debut, Dev Patel's upcoming project is the medieval action-thriller "The Peasant," while Simu Liu eyes a "Sleeping Dogs" movie that will highlight his "Shang-Chi" training. Additionally, Florence Pugh convinced Disney to let her perform a skyscraper stunt in "Thunderbolts."
These actors' commitment to practical work mirrors Cruise's advocacy for training and his creation of separate boot camps for his "Final Reckoning" and "Top Gun: Maverick" cast members. A focus on practical work has been one of the series' strengths, with many actors, such as Pom Klementieff, emulating Cruise's methods. Audiences have expressed a desire to see more tactile, real-life action in the theater. However, whether studios will support such efforts remains to be seen.
Stay tuned for updates on upcoming releases, including "Marvel," "Star Wars," and "Star Trek" projects, the future of the "DC Universe" on film and television, and the latest developments surrounding "Doctor Who."
Gizmodo recently discussed the potential future of the "Mission: Impossible" franchise, with Tom Cruise's retirement from the series a possibility. In the event of Cruise's departure, several new action stars, such as Dev Patel and Simu Liu, could take over the genre, as their commitment to practical work mirrors Cruio's advocacy for training. IO9 also mentioned the upcoming movies-and-tv entertainment from Warner Bros., which includes a potential "Edge of Tomorrow" sequel, that Cruise is involved in producing.
