With 'Mission: Impossible' concluding, What lies ahead for Action Cinema in Hollywood?
Chatting about the Future of Mission: Impossible
With the final installment, The Final Reckoning, brewing up some questions about the future, the focus has been on who might step up to fill Tom Cruise's shoes when he's ready to hang up his IMF agent gear.
Cruise, the heart and soul of the franchise, has solidified his dedication to these movies until his very last beat. But with rumors swirling about a possible retirement, talks of a potential successor have been buzzing ever since Jeremy Renner's character, William Brandt, was cast for Ghost Protocol.
Throughout the series, periodic new co-leads, such as Rebecca Ferguson's Ilsa Faust, Hayley Atwell's Grace, and Henry Cavill's August Walker, have been murkily introduced, seemingly teasing potential new frontrunners. It seems these characters were carefully cast to get audiences warmed up to the idea of transitioning to a new face, even if that means Ethan continuing to nail the death-defying stunts while the new lead handles the shootouts and fisticuffs.
After a team-gathering mission, Ethan ventures off to explore a submerged submarine while his team battles Russian special forces on St. Matthew's Island. With the series consistently building upon its predecessors, this could provide a template for a future led by anyone but Cruise, should he decide to gracefully exit the stage when his body calls the final curtain.
Alternatively, with a deal in hand to develop and produce films for Warner Bros., Cruise might allow Paramount to keep the Mission: Impossible franchise alive for a movie or two. This would give audiences a chance to miss the old guard before warming up to a fresh set of faces, culminating in a highly anticipated return for Cruise, creating a legacy sequel that could rival the hype surrounding Top Gun: Maverick.
Failing that, the void left by the waning of these action spy franchises could pave the way for various actors and directors to leap into the fray. With the absence of a Black Widow movie and many unknowns surrounding the future of both Jason Bourne and James Bond, any ambitious actor or filmmaker could potentially seize the opportunity to carve their name in action movie history.
Recently, several actors seem to be thirsting for some dynamic, practical action. Following his directorial debut, Dev Patel is busy prepping for the medieval action-thriller The Peasant. Simu Liu is keen on bringing a Sleeping Dogs movie to life, capitalizing on his martial arts training from his turn as Shang-Chi. Florence Pugh even convinced Disney to let her dash off a skyscraper for a heart-stopping stunt in Thunderbolts.
This hunger for real, gritty action is palpable among today's crop of Hollywood stars. Cruise has consistently championed the merits of pure, tangible work, even arranging separate boot camps for his Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and Top Gun: Maverick co-stars.
The audience's growing appreciation for practical work in action movies means there's a thriving demand for films that look and feel authentic. The studios simply need to seize the moment and provide a platform for these actors and filmmakers to showcase their talents.
If you're hungry for more thrilling updates on the action movie scene and beyond, don't forget to catch up on the latest news on Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, the DC Universe, and the ever-evolving world of Doctor Who.
- Gizmodo might discuss potential candidates to take over from Tom Cruise in the future of the Mission: Impossible franchise, considering Cruise's rumored retirement and the introduction of new co-leads in the series.
- The implications of the future of the Mission: Impossible franchise could impact the entertainment industry, as a shift in actors could pave the way for a new generation of action stars, similar to how Simu Liu, Florence Pugh, and Dev Patel are currently seeking out action roles.
- In the field of technology and entertainment, websites like io9 and movies-and-tv sections of various platforms may cover the evolving landscape of action movies, given the public's increasing appreciation for practical work in action films.
