A “Mission: Impossible”?: Can a 9th part work without Tom Cruise?

• With the two-parter “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning” Tom Cruise says goodbye to his cult figure Ethan Hunt.
• But the film series should continue in a 9th part even after Cruise’s departure.
• Can this go well? After all, the films build on stunts and a charismatic hero.

On July 12, 2023, Tom Cruise will begin the first film of his final graduation with the “Mission: Impossible” film series. In “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning – Part 1” he slips into the role of Ethan Hunt a penultimate time. But anyone who now assumes that without Tom Cruise there will be no more “Mission: Impossible” films is wrong.

During the world premiere of the film in Rome, director Christopher McQuarrie revealed fandangothat the two “Dead Reckoning” films should not represent the end of the successful franchise and that there are already ideas for “Mission: Impossible 9”. If that is a good idea?

Does anyone want to see ‘Mission: Impossible’ without Tom Cruise?

The “Mission: Impossible” films were very different from each other at first, only “Mission: Impossible – Phantom Protocol” from 2011 relied primarily on spectacular stunts, which have been the focus of the films ever since.

While the films continue to introduce new characters, Ethan Hunt is always the main character and Tom Cruise’s willingness to personally perform dangerous stunts add to the thrills. Therefore, it is likely that many fans of the action series will go to the cinema especially for Tom Cruise.

An end after “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning – Part 2” in 2024 would certainly have been understood by everyone. The “Fast & Furious” series also never ends and is constantly being expanded with more films, but Vin Diesel remains there as a pillar of the franchise.

If the conclusion of the “Dead Reckoning” story already hints at a sequel to Ethan Hunt, Paramount should be able to judge from the reaction of viewers whether a sequel without Cruise is really a wise decision.