Director Christopher McQuarrie teases more Mission Impossible films, despite earlier reports that Dead Reckoning Part Two would end the series.
With Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One having its long-awaited premiere in Rome this week, director Director Christopher McQuarrie has spoken up about the franchise's future – revealing that Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part Two will not be the end of the franchise, as previously thought.
At the Rome premiere for the seventh instalment, the director told Fandango, as posted in a Tweet from their official account, that “Dead Reckoning Parts 1 and 2 are not the end of the series”. McQuarrie, who has so far helmed four Mission Impossible films, went on to say that proposals for the continuation of the series are already in the works, telling Fandango that they “already have ideas for what comes next”.
Will Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part Two be the final film?
No. But while McQuarrie has seemingly dashed those particular rumours, he has notably made no comment on if the two-parter will mark the end for Tom Cruise’s stint as top IMF agent Ethan Hunt. Cruise has starred in every Mission Impossible film so far, and has played an invaluable role in making the franchise what it is today. However, Cruise is fast approaching 61 years of age, which would put him in his mid-60s by the time filming or a Mission Impossible 9 would take place. This could signal that while the franchise will continue, it will be without Ethan Hunt.
What will happen after Dead Reckoning Part Two?
Despite the recent pattern of franchise’s killing off their old protagonists to make way for new blood (see: No Time to Die, Avengers: Endgame, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and others), there is always the possibility that Tom Cruise might not be done with his character. Another possibility is that Ethan Hunt is either killed or retires during the course of Dead Reckoning Part Two; the latter leaving space for Hunt to return in some capacity in future films, while passing the role of franchise protagonist onto a new person. As to whom that might be, there is so far only speculation. However, it is possible that Rebecca Ferguson's Ilsa Faust could take over as the franchise lead. Ferguson has starred in the last four Mission Impossible films, and is currently playing the lead role in Apple TV’s dystopian sci-fi series Silo. In addition, she also plays a leading role in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune franchise as Lady Jessica, mother to Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides.
While speculation is rife about what the future holds for the Mission Impossible franchise, the very real premiere of Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One took place on June 19, 2023 in Rome, Italy to rave reviews from critics, and will be released to wider audiences next month. In the meantime, we've got you covered with everything you need to know about Mission Impossible 7.
Catch Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One in theatres on July 12, 2023.