Hollywood's Action Direction After 'Mission: Impossible': What Lies Ahead?
Ready for the Future: Who'll Step into Ethan Hunt's Shoes?
After nearly three decades and multiple on-screen deaths, Ethan Hunt and the Mission: Impossible series are drawing to a close with The Final Reckoning. The burning question is, "What's next?" That question has hung over the franchise for years in various forms.
Tom Cruise has been the heart and soul of the series, steadfast in his dedication to these films until his heart stops beating. long-time fans recall the rumors suggesting that Jeremy Renner, who joined the cast as William Brandt, would take over as the series lead if Cruise decided to bid farewell. However, this never materialized, leading to Cruise sharing the screen with other action leads since Ghost Protocol, including Rebecca Ferguson's Ilsa Faust, Hayley Atwell's Grace, and Henry Cavill's August Walker.
Each of these newcomers, even Cavill until his villainous reveal, has felt like an attempt by the writers to gauge audience interest in potential replacements for an aging Cruise. For example, Ferguson's Ilsa has repeatedly been positioned as a foil or mirror to Ethan, showcasing her action skills and potential as a standalone protagonist.
As the series continues to build upon its predecessors, it's plausible that this could be the way forward should Cruise opt to step back. Perhaps a new protagonist will emerge, taking over shootouts and fist fights, while Ethan continues to wow us with his death-defying stunts – a formula Final Reckoning has already begun to employ.
Alternatively, Cruise has secured a deal with Warner Bros. to develop and produce films, including potential collaborations with Alejandro González Iñárritu and even an Edge of Tomorrow sequel. In this case, Paramount could potentially keep Mission: Impossible going without Cruise for a movie or two, allowing audiences time to miss Ethan while growing fond of a new or returning set of characters. When Ethan eventually returns, it could make for a monumental event, creating a legacy sequel akin to Top Gun: Maverick.
If not, the void created by potential franchises like Jason Bourne, James Bond, and a nonexistent Black Widow movie has left an action-packed gap in the cinematic universe. Several actors, such as Dev Patel and Simu Liu, seem eager to step into the action spotlight, with Florence Pugh even convincing Disney to let her perform an exhilarating stunt in Thunderbolts.
As the focus on practical work continues to be a defining characteristic of the Mission: Impossible franchise, it remains to be seen whether studios will give talented actors like Pom Klementieff and enthusiastic audiences the chance to experience awe-inspiring, real-life thrills.
In the meantime, keep an eye out for the latest updates on Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, as well as future plans for the DC Universe on film and TV, and the next chapter of Doctor Who.
Potential New Leads
While a new protagonist could be introduced, several established characters are already generating buzz:
- Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) – Fan favorite with complex morality and dynamic chemistry with Hunt
- Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) – Loyal friend and tech-savvy team member since the third film
- Paris – Relatively new character with evolving morality and fresh dynamics
Each of these characters has strengths and challenges that could make them suitable successors to Ethan Hunt. The final decision rests with the franchise's creators and the reactions of audiences worldwide.
- With Ethan Hunt's potential departure from the Mission: Impossible series, the role of Ilsa Faust, played by Rebecca Ferguson, could be a strong contender as a new series lead, given her complex morality and dynamic chemistry with Hunt.
- For the future of the Mission: Impossible franchise, Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg), who has been a loyal friend and tech-savvy team member since the third film, might also be considered as a potential successor to Ethan Hunt.
- Though relatively new, Paris is another character with evolving morality and fresh dynamics, which could make it interesting for the creators to explore her as a potential new protagonist in the series.
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