Mission Impossible: Ethan Hunt travels to Alaska! Character from the first film returns for the grand finale

• The two-part “Dead Reckoning” is the grand finale of the “Mission: Impossible” film series.
• The first part awaits us in the summer of 2023, part 2 is currently being shot.
• Now director Christopher McQuarrie has confirmed a returnee we haven’t seen since the first film in 1996.

With long-running film franchises, it’s common to revisit major and minor characters from previous films throughout the franchise in order to tie the films even more closely together. “Fast & Furious” brings even the dead back to the realm of the living and the Netflix series “Cobra Kai” will probably not rest until every supporting actor from the “Karate Kid” films has made an appearance at least once.

“Mission: Impossible” relies more on new characters, but at least there was a reunion with Ving Rhames from the first film. Now the cult series with Tom Cruise is coming to an end, a grand finale in two parts is still planned.

Of course, the return of some old acquaintances ensures that the event ends as well as possible. Director Christopher McQuarrie will certainly keep some secrets until the theatrical release of the two films, but at least one character from the first film has already been confirmed for “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 2”: Rolf Saxon as William Donloe.

We remember: In 1996’s “Mission: Impossible” Ethan Hunt had to steal important data from the CIA headquarters and in the process rappeled from the ceiling in an iconic scene. Besides the numerous safeguards, CIA analyst William Donloe was his biggest obstacle.

Ultimately, Ethan Hunt succeeded, much to the annoyance of Donloe, who was transferred to a polar outpost in Alaska as punishment for his failure. The now confirmed return of Donloe and filming in Norway suggest that Ethan Hunt will also end up in Alaska in “Dead Reckoning Part 2”, Norway would simply act as an Alaskan double here.

Of course, it is not yet known why Ethan Hunt travels to Alaska and whether he met William Donloe by accident or on purpose. We may find out more on July 13, 2023, when “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1” starts in German cinemas.