Post-'Mission: Impossible': Predicting Hollywood's Action Movie Direction
Fresh Take:
After three decades, 3 deaths on screen, and a slew of mind-blowing stunts, Ethan Hunt and the Mission: Impossible series are reaching the end with The Final Reckoning. The question now is, "What's next?" Essentially hanging over this franchise for ages.
Tom Cruise is the heart and soul of the series, and he's shown an unwavering dedication to these films until his last breath. Longtime fans recall the rumors swirling when Jeremy Renner joined the crew, suggesting he might take over as the franchise's lead if Cruise retired. But that's never happened - instead, Cruise has had another star on board as a co-lead in every installment since Ghost Protocol. Names like Rebecca Ferguson, Hayley Atwell, and Henry Cavill have popped up, making audiences wonder if they'll be the ones to inherit the mantle.
Each of these actors has had their moment to shine, practically begging for audiences to root for them as the new protagonist. While it's unclear if the writers intended this or not, the possibility of a new face taking over seems likely. Perhaps they'll handle shootouts and fisticuffs while Ethan continues to deliver death-defying stunts, as seen in Final Reckoning.
In the submarine, Ethan sets out on his latest mission to investigate a shipwreck, while his team tackles Russian special forces on St. Matthew's Island. Mission: Impossible always builds upon its own legacy, so this pattern could continue if Cruise sticks with leading the series until his body says otherwise.
Alternatively, Cruise has secured a deal with Warner Bros. to develop and produce films, including the possibility of an Alejandro González Iñárritu directorial or an Edge of Tomorrow sequel. This leaves space for Mission: Impossible to continue without Cruise for a movie or two, giving audiences time to miss Ethan before returning to an eventual sequel.
Several actors are catching the action bug lately, like Dev Patel, Simu Liu, and Florence Pugh, who jumped off a skyscraper for a stunt in Thunderbolts. These actors are determined to do actual physical work, and Cruise has championed this ethos by encouraging younger actors to study old movies and prepare for extreme action scenes [3][5].
With popular franchises like Jason Bourne and James Bond potentially in the works, and a gap for action movies filled by female-led films, now's the prime time for a new action hero to step into the spotlight [4]. Henry Golding, Chris Hemsworth, and Idris Elba are some potential candidates for the role [1]. Meanwhile, directors like Christopher Nolan and Justin Lin could step in to keep the action high and the stakes real [1][2].
Action movies thrive on practical effects, and as audiences grow hungrier for authenticity, studios will have to decide whether to give creatives and actors the opportunities to deliver those edge-of-your-seat moments. The future of the Mission: Impossible franchise remains uncertain, but one thing's for sure: action fans can expect exciting times ahead [3][5].
Want more updates? Check out Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek release dates, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and all about the future of Doctor Who [2].
Enrichment Insights:
- Christopher Nolan and Justin Lin have been suggested as potential directors for future Mission: Impossible installments.
- Henry Golding, Chris Hemsworth, and Idris Elba are among the actors that have been speculated as candidates to replace Tom Cruise in the franchise.
- With Henry Golding, Chris Hemsworth, and Idris Elba as potential candidates to take over the mantle and directors like Christopher Nolan and Justin Lin at the helm, the future of the Mission: Impossible franchise could see a new action hero stepping into the spotlight.
- As studios aim to deliver more authenticity with practical effects, the upcoming action movies might follow the path set by Tom Cruise in the Mission: Impossible series as younger actors look up to him for guidance in extreme action scenes.
- With the futures of franchises like Jason Bourne and James Bond still unclear, the void left in the action genre could be filled by a female-led film, while report of new installments for Doctor Who, Star Trek, Marvel, Star Wars, and DC Universe are eagerly anticipated.
