Post-"Mission: Impossible", What Does Hollywood's Action Movie Landscape Look Like?
In the wake of Ethan Hunt's potential swan song with Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, speculation has been swirling about the franchise's future and the characters vying for the leading role. Here's a glance at some potential candidates:
- Hayley Atwell as Grace: Introduced in Dead Reckoning Part 1, Atwell's character, Grace, could be a formidable choice. She's already demonstrated her action prowess in the series and her intriguing backstory could be fleshed out further[5].
- Jeremy Renner as William Brandt: Renner's character, Brandt, was initially rumored to step into Hunt's shoes. However, his recent health issues cast doubt on this possibility. Nevertheless, his field agent narrative remains intriguing[5].
- Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell: Luther, a longstanding character, seems more suitable as a supporting figure. Transitioning him to a lead role might not be the best fit[5].
- Simon Pegg as Benji Dunn: Benji, a fan favorite, excels at being the tech genius and comic relief. A drastic change to the lead role may not suit his character[5].
The franchise's future hinges on how these characters are developed and whether new faces join the ranks to take over from Ethan Hunt.
As for Tom Cruise, he's struck a deal with Warner Bros. for development and production of films, including collaborations with Alejandro González Iñárritu and potentially another installment of Edge of Tomorrow. If he were willing, Paramount could keep the Mission: Impossible series going without him, providing audiences time to miss Ethan while falling in love with a new or familiar set of characters. A grand return for Ethan at a later point could create a legacy sequel as monumental as Top Gun: Maverick[6].
In the ever-evolving landscapes of entertainment, several young actors are making moves in the action genre. For instance, following his directorial debut, Dev Patel has his sights set on the medieval action thriller The Peasant. Simu Liu is eager to star in a Sleeping Dogs movie, putting his Shang-Chi training to good use. And in a bold move, Florence Pugh convinced Disney to let her jump off a skyscraper for a daring stunt in the current smash Thunderbolts. Pugh's dedication to action-heavy, practical filmmaking reflects a growing urge among actors to deliver authentic physical performances[6].
Cruise himself has advocated for younger actors to prepare themselves for such roles, encouraging them to study classic films and establish separate boot camps for his Mission: Impossible and Top Gun: Maverick casts[6]. A focus on practical effects has long been one of the franchise's strengths, and several actors seem eager to embrace that ethos[6]. As audiences gravitate towards movies that appear genuine and exciting, it remains to be seen whether studios will grant their desires and offer more opportunities for authentic, thrilling action films.
Keeping tabs on upcoming releases in the Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek universes? Looking ahead to new chapters in the DC Universe on film and television? Or perhaps curious about the future of Doctor Who? You can count on io9 for all that and more[7].
- In the future, the 'Mission: Impossible' franchise could see a new leading character, perhaps a young and talented actor like Dev Patel, who has expressed interest in the action genre.
- Gizmodo might have news about potential 'Doctor Who' updates in the near future, as they often cover upcoming releases in various entertainment universes.
- As studios aim to create more authentic and thrilling action films, ‘Io9’ and ‘Gizmodo’ could provide updates on how their teamwork with Tom Cruise might shape the 'Mission: Impossible' series moving forward.
