What lies ahead for Hollywood's action genre after the release of 'Mission: Impossible'?
Let's Talk About the Future of Ethan Hunt and Mission: Impossible
After more than three decades, countless exhilarating stunts, and three on-screen deaths, it seems that Ethan Hunt's story might be reaching its conclusion with Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. But what's next? This query has long circled around this iconic franchise, and now it's back in the spotlight.
Tom Cruise has been the heart and soul of this action-packed series, and through the years, he's made it clear that his dedication to these films knows no bounds. As rumors swirled about Jeremy Renner potentially stepping into the leading role if Cruise were to retire, he remains a central figure, with co-stars like Rebecca Ferguson, Hayley Atwell, and Henry Cavill by his side.
To many, these co-stars have felt like Mission: Impossible trying to gauge audience reactions to potential successors for an aging Cruise. Each actor, even Cavill until Walker's villain reveal, has had their moment to shine and prove themselves as worthy contenders for the lead role. Whether this was the writers' intent or not, the possibility of a new protagonist taking the reins feels imminent, even if they share the action scenes with Ethan.
In The Final Reckoning, Ethan gathers his team together before splitting off to investigate a deep-sea submarine while his friends face off against Russian special forces on St. Matthew's Island. As a series that consistently builds upon its predecessors, it's not difficult to imagine that this could be the formula for the future if Cruise is determined to guide these movies until his body says otherwise.
But what happens if Cruise decides to move on? He recently signed a deal to develop and produce films for Warner Bros., including one with acclaimed director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and possibly an Edge of Tomorrow sequel. If he allows it, Paramount could potentially keep the Mission: Impossible franchise going without him for a film or two so audiences can miss Ethan and get invested in a new or returning cast. When he returns, it could be a momentous event, giving Cruise and the studio a legacy sequel on par with the success of Top Gun: Maverick.
Failing that, the action-spy genre could see a revival with newfranchises or films fronted by a fresh wave of talented actors. Already, actors like Dev Patel, Simu Liu, and Florence Pugh are eager to dive into action roles, just as Cruise has encouraged future stars to study classic films and get physically fit for the demanding fights and stunts. Audiences seem more than willing to support realistic action movies in theaters, and studios might soon provide those authentic thrills, if they let talented actors and creatives take the reins.
Stay tuned for updates on the future of Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, and Doctor Who, as well as potential developments for the DC Universe on film and TV.
Enrichment Data:- No Official Successor: There is currently no official confirmation or credible reporting on a specific individual being groomed or considered to replace Tom Cruise as the lead in the Mission: Impossible franchise after The Final Reckoning.- Cast Members’ Roles: Characters played by Hayley Atwell (Grace) and Pom Klementieff (Paris) have received expanded roles in recent films, but neither is being positioned as the new face of the franchise in promotional materials or interviews.- Future of the Franchise: Discussions about the future often emphasize the possibility of new directions or spin-offs, but there is no official announcement regarding a new lead or reboot.- Fan and Media Speculation: While some discussions focus on franchise regulars like Simon Pegg or Ving Rhames potentially taking on more central roles, there is no confirmation or industry reporting to support this as a concrete plan.
- Io9 and Gizmodo recently wrote about the future of the Mission: Impossible franchise beyond Tom Cruise, discussing potential successors for Ethan Hunt as the series looks to evolve and remain relevant in the technology-driven, entertainment-rich future.
- As Tom Cruise explores new projects outside of the Mission: Impossible series, sites like Movies-and-TV may focus on the ongoing adventures of this iconic franchise, particularly if Paramount decides to carry on the legacy without him, allowing a new or returning cast to step into the spotlight.
- With Dev Patel, Simu Liu, and Florence Pugh among the talented actors eager to venture into action roles, fans and media outlets like io9 and Gizmodo might speculate about the emergence of a new action-spy franchise in the movies-and-tv entertainment landscape, freeing the Mission: Impossible saga for fresh beginnings as Cruise passes the torch to the next generation.
