Hollywood's Next Action Cinema Chapter Post-'Mission: Impossible': A Look Ahead
In the sixth and purportedly final installment of the long-running Mission: Impossible franchise, titled The Final Reckoning, the question of who will continue Ethan Hunt's legacy looms. Tom Cruise, synonymous with the series for nearly three decades, has repeatedly expressed his unwavering commitment to the movies.
Rumors abounded about Jeremy Renner's character, William Brandt, potentially stepping into the leading role, following his introduction in Ghost Protocol. However, such a transition remains uncertain. Instead, Cruise has been accompanied by a supporting cast of co-leads since Ghost Protocol, including Rebecca Ferguson's Ilsa Faust, Hayley Atwell's Grace, and Henry Cavill's August Walker. Each character, even Cavill's antagonist, has seemingly been introduced as a potential candidate to succeed an aging Cruise.
The possibility of a new protagonist arises if Cruise intends to continue leading the films until his physical limits are reached. This dynamic is already present in The Final Reckoning, where Ethan Hunt performs death-defying stunts while his team handles more grounded action sequences.
Alternatively, Cruise has signed a deal to produce films for Warner Bros., including a potential Edge of Tomorrow sequel. This could potentially allow Paramount to keep the Mission: Impossible franchise alive without Cruise, giving audiences time to adjust to a new or returning set of characters before Cruise's potential return.
In the absence of major action spy franchises, the stage is set for new talent to emerge. Actors like Dev Patel, Simu Liu, and Florence Pugh have shown interest in action roles, with Pugh even performing a daring stunt in Marvel's Thunderbolts. This trend toward practical action sequences and physical performances, advocated by Cruise, could shape the future of action cinema.
The future of the Mission: Impossible franchise remains uncertain, with potential candidates for the lead role including Jeremy Renner's Brandt, Hayley Atwell's Grace, and the lesser-known Jasper Briggs/Jim Phelps Jr. These characters offer different directions for the series, with their selection significantly influencing the tone and style of subsequent films.
Several Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, and DC releases are anticipated in the near future. For updates on these and other popular franchises, stay tuned.
- As the future of the Mission: Impossible franchise hangs in the balance, tech news outlets like Gizmodo and io9 are closely watching for updates on potential contenders for Ethan Hunt's mantle, such as Jeremy Renner's Brandt, Hayley Atwell's Grace, and Jasper Briggs/Jim Phelps Jr.
- In a possible shift for the franchise, Tom Cruise has signed a deal with Warner Bros. to produce films, which may pave the way for the Mission: Impossible series to continue without Cruise, allowing for a gradual transition to a new set of characters.
- With the emergence of new talent in the entertainment industry, such as Dev Patel, Simu Liu, and Florence Pugh, the future of action cinema is poised to be defined by practical action sequences and physical performances, as advocated by Tom Cruise.
