Predicting the Future of Hollywood Action Movies Post 'Mission: Impossible'
In the realm of heart-stopping action and death-defying stunts, Ethan Hunt of Mission: Impossible series, after 30 years and countless on-screen deaths, seems to be approaching the end of his spy game with the latest installment, The Final Reckoning. The question on everyone's mind is who'll carry the torch when the ever-dedicated Tom Cruise hangs up his spy gear.
For years, whispers have followed the beat of this franchise – with Tom Cruise essentially becoming its heartbeat. With Jeremy Renner joining the cast as William Brandt in Ghost Protocol, rumors of him stepping into the leading role if Cruise retires were rife. Yet, that never transpired, but from Ghost onwards, Cruise established a fellow action star to stand beside him, including Rebecca Ferguson's Ilsa Faust (first appearing in Rogue Nation), Hayley Atwell's Grace (Dead Reckoning), and Henry Cavill's August Walker (Fallout).
Each new sidekick, even Cavill up until his villain reveal, seems to be a wink and a nod from the writers at possible candidates to replace Cruise when his body betrays him. Perhaps it's an attempt to get the audience invested in a potential new candidate or perhaps it's pure serendipity. However, if a new face does take over, it's likely they'll handle shootouts and fist fights while Ethan pulls off the gravity-defying stunts that Final Reckoning already does.
The plot unfolds with Ethan gathering his latest team, then splitting off to investigate a deep-sea submarine wreck. Meanwhile, the rest of the team grapples with Russian special forces on St. Matthew's Island. Known for building on its foundation, this series might be paving the way for future installments sans Cruise if he insists on leading until his body won't allow it.
Alternatively, Cruise has struck a deal with Warner Bros. to develop and produce films, including one with Alejandro González Iñárritu and a potential Edge of Tomorrow sequel. In this scenario, Paramount could keep the Mission: Impossible series alive without Cruise for a movie or two, allowing the audience to miss Ethan and become attached to a new, returning cast. That way, his triumphant return would feel momentous, much like Top Gun: Maverick did some years ago.
Failing that, we might witness a resurgence of action-spy movies as we bid farewell to the Mission: Impossible franchise, along with its contemporaries such as Jason Bourne and James Bond. With such a vacuum, practically any actor or director could seize the opportunity to carve out their niche.
A wave of enthusiasm for on-screen action has swept over the industry lately. Following his directorial debut in Monkey Man, Dev Patel's next project is the medieval action-thriller The Peasant. Simu Liu has expressed interest in bringing the video game Sleeping Dogs to life, while Florence Pugh convinced Disney to let her scale a skyscraper for a stunt in the latest Thunderbolts. Such commitment to genuine physical work has become a hallmark of Cruise's acting methodology, and actors like Pom Klementieff seem to be taking notes. The audience seems eager for films that deliver authentic, visceral thrills, so it remains to be seen if studios will give them what they crave.
In the sea of Hollywood gossip, more Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, and Doctor Who releases await us. Stay tuned for the next electrifying chapter in these universe sagas.
(Enrichment Data: For the past decade, rumors have circulated about who could replace Tom Cruise as the lead in the MI series. Among the speculated names are Chris Evans, Ryan Reynolds, and Chris Hemsworth. There has also been talk that Cruise himself prefers Glen Powell to take over the role, though Powell has publicly refuted these claims.)
- Despite the ongoing speculation, the future of the Mission: Impossible series might lie in the hands of a new leading actor, as Tom Cruise considers his future within the franchise.
- IO9 reports that with Cruise's potential retirement in mind, producers might look towards Chris Evans, Ryan Reynolds, Chris Hemsworth, or even Glen Powell to pick up the mantle, as each new sidekick seems to be a hint at a possible successor.
- As the Mission: Impossible series continues to push the boundaries of technology and entertainment in movies-and-tv, Gizmodo suggests that if Cruise does depart, the new lead could inherit his signature action-packed sequences while showcasing their own unique flair.
