What does the Future Hold for Action Movies in Hollywood Post-'Mission: Impossible'?
The Final Chapter (Or Perhaps Not): The Mission: Impossible Saga and Its Next Star
After three decades, multiple screen deaths, and a slew of daring stunts, Ethan Hunt and the Mission: Impossible franchise seem to be closing a chapter with The Final Reckoning. But what lies ahead? This question has lingered over the series for years, and in various forms.
Tom Cruise is the heart of this series, and his unwavering dedication to these films has been evident throughout the years. Ever since Jeremy Renner was cast as William Brandt for Ghost Protocol, whispers started that Renner might take over as the series' lead if Cruise decided to depart the franchise. However, that never came to pass, and since Ghost and onwards, Cruise has had another leading star to assist him, such as Rebecca Ferguson's Ilsa Faust, Hayley Atwell's Grace, and Henry Cavill's August Walker.
Each co-star, including Cavill, has shown their worth as a potential new leading man, even when playing villains. The writers may not have intended it, but the chances of a new protagonist emerging feel imminent, even if it means splitting the responsibilities, with Ethan focusing on death-defying stunts and the newcomer handling shootouts and fist fights.
In The Final Reckoning, Ethan gathers his team and embarks on a solo mission, investigating a wrecked submarine, while his comrades confront Russian special forces on St. Matthew's Island. This pattern of building upon previous films suggests that this structure could continue if Cruise is insistent on leading these films until his body dictates otherwise.
Alternatively, Cruise has struck a deal with Warner Bros. to develop and produce films, including a project with Academy Award-winning director Alejandro González Iñárritu and potentially an Edge of Tomorrow sequel. If Cruise permits, Paramount could possibly keep the Mission: Impossible series going without him, allowing audiences to miss Ethan while becoming invested in a fresh or returning set of characters. When Ethan eventually returns, they could then create a legacy sequel, perhaps as significant as Top Gun: Maverick was just a few years ago.
Barring such a scenario, we might witness a wave of new action spy movies over the coming years, similar to the woman-led ones that attempted to fill the vacuum left by a lacking Black Widow film. Mission: Impossible ranks among the last of the genre's marquee franchises, along with Jason Bourne and James Bond. Although prospects for new films in these series are uncertain, it seems that any actor or director could seize this opportunity and forge a new path in the world of action cinema.
Recent developments hint at a renewed interest in action among actors. Following his directorial debut, Dev Patel is set to star in the medieval action-thriller The Peasant. Simu Liu eyes a Sleeping Dogs movie that will put his Shang-Chi training to good use, and in an intriguing turn of events, Florence Pugh convinced Disney to let her perform a skyscraper stunt for Thunderbolts.
This movie's emphasis on practical work and Pugh's determination to execute it herself echoes a trend among current stars who aim to get their hands dirty and engage in genuine physical work. Cruise has long advocated for budding actors to immerse themselves in studying old films, even going so far as to establish separate boot camps for his respective Final Reckoning and Top Gun: Maverick cast members. A focus on practical work has been a key strength of the Mission: Impossible series, and actors like Pom Klementieff appear to be taking Cruise's guidance to heart. If studios are willing to grant them chances, audiences might embrace movies that deliver authentic, tangible thrills.
Stay tuned for the latest updates on Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, and the future of Doctor Who.
With Tom Cruise potentially exploring new projects beyond the Mission: Impossible franchise, Io9 and Gizmodo speculate about the future of entertainment, pointing towards a possible transition of the series to a new leading man.
As speculation about Ethan Hunt's successor grows, the writers of Movies-and-TV note that subsequent films could continue Cruise's legacy by allowing other characters to take the spotlight, perhaps splitting responsibilities between Ethan and a newcomer.
As the world of action cinema embraces a wave of new talent, actors like Dev Patel, Simu Liu, and Florence Pugh are showing their interest in action roles, mirroring Cruise's insistence on practical work and perhaps paving the way for a new generation of action movies.
