What Lies Ahead for Action Movies in Hollywood Post-'Mission: Impossible'?
Let's Tackle the Endgame of Ethan Hunt with Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
After an impressive 30-year run, Ethan Hunt and the Mission: Impossible series have practically reached their twilight with The Final Reckoning. Tom Cruise, the heart and soul of this action-packed saga, has made it abundantly clear that he's not letting go anytime soon.
From Ghost Protocol to The Final Reckoning, Cruise has always had a co-star by his side to test the waters for a possible new lead. Rebecca Ferguson as Ilsa Faust, Hayley Atwell's Grace, and Henry Cavill's August Walker are all potential contenders to snatch the mantle from the iconic spy when Cruise decides to hang up his spikes.
Cleverly, the series seems to be grooming these actors for stardom by giving them action-packed moments and intriguing story arcs of their own. Whether it's intentional or not, the possibility of a new protagonist taking over feels increasingly likely. Perhaps this newcomer will excel in hand-to-hand combat, while Ethan Hunt continues to defy gravity with death-defying stunts, as seen in The Final Reckoning.
In the film, Hunt assembles a team and goes solo on a deep-sea mission to investigate a sunken submarine. Meanwhile, the rest of the team battles Russian special forces on St. Matthew's Island. The Mission: Impossible series has always built on its predecessors, so it's reasonable to assume that this could be a blueprint for the franchise if Cruise decides to step back due to health constraints.
Are there other paths for Mission: Impossible to explore? Absolutely. Cruise recently secured a deal with Warner Bros. to develop and produce films, including a potential Edge of Tomorrow sequel and a project with Alejandro G. Iñárritu. If the odds favor him stepping away, Paramount could keep the franchise going for a few movies, allowing audiences to miss Ethan while they become invested in new or returning characters. Then, when the time is right, a grand return could leave fans breathless.
Alternatively, we might witness a new wave of action spy movies in the coming years, as several up-and-coming actors seem to be catching the action bug. Dev Patel, Simu Liu, and even Florence Pugh have expressed interest in physical roles, highlighting a trend toward more realistic, practical action sequences favored by Tom Cruise.
With franchise heavyweights like Jason Bourne and James Bond potentially on the horizon, combined with the uncertainty of the Fast & Furious franchise's future, there's certainly room for a new action hero to emerge and claim their stake.
Bonus Insights:- Chris Evans, Ryan Reynolds, Chris Hemsworth, Henry Golding, and Tom Hiddleston are among the actors that have been speculated to replace Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, should he choose to retire from the Mission: Impossible franchise.- Each of the aforementioned actors has demonstrated their action chops, making them possible candidates for the esteemed role. The final choice will depend on the direction the franchise wants to take and the type of character they envision for its future.- In addition to these potential replacements, the franchise could also explore the possibility of keeping the core characters, such as Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) or Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames), and introducing a new central figure to maintain continuity.
- In the near future, we may see a new actor taking on the role of Ethan Hunt, as Tom Cruise has mentioned possible new leads in the Mission: Impossible series.
- Gizmodo and io9 might discuss the upcoming action spy movies, given the interest shown by actors like Dev Patel, Simu Liu, and Florence Pugh, who are known for theirphysical roles.
- The future of the Mission: Impossible franchise could also involve existing characters like Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) or Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames), introducing a new central figure to ensure continuity, instead of casting a new Ethan Hunt.
