For nearly three decades, the “Mission: Impossible” franchise has remained a cornerstone of modern action cinema. With Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt at its center, the series has evolved into a global phenomenon, known for its high-octane set pieces, elaborate espionage plots, and ever-raising stakes.
Despite its consistent popularity, questions about its long-term direction have started to surface. Each new entry has hinted at the possibility of closure, yet Cruise’s commitment to bigger, bolder stunts and globe-trotting missions keeps resetting expectations. Meanwhile, shifting titles, production changes, and vague remarks from the creative team have only fueled speculation.
So, will “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” be the last time we see Ethan Hunt in action, or is the franchise gearing up for more impossible missions? In this article, we take a closer look at everything that’s been said—and unsaid—about its potential future.
Is Tom Cruise done with ‘Mission: Impossible’?
Good news for action fans: despite “The Final Reckoning” being marketed as the end of Ethan Hunt’s adventures, that’s not the end at all. According to Christopher McQuarrie, who directed the last four installments, there are already developments underway for future “Mission: Impossible” films.
Tom Cruise himself confirmed in July 2023, during promotion for “Dead Reckoning Part One,” that he’s interested in continuing the franchise beyond the eighth movie—even though Parts 7 and 8 were initially billed as a send-off for his character. His enthusiasm hasn’t faded, and the door remains open for more continuations.
Inspired by Harrison Ford’s longevity in the “Indiana Jones” franchise, Cruise even mentioned that he hopes to keep making “Mission: Impossible” flicks into his eighties. If that’s the case, it looks like Ethan Hunt isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Beyond this, it’s clear the A-lister isn’t ready to step back from the action genre. In fact, most of his upcoming projects continue down the same adrenaline-fueled path. He’s set to star in an untitled Alejandro G. Iñárritu film about the most powerful man in the world who causes a disaster and embarks on a mission to prove he’s humanity’s savior.
He’s also reuniting with McQuarrie for “The Gauntlet,” a thriller about a detective and a witness on a deadly ride to the courtroom, betrayed by corrupt cops and forced to armor a hijacked bus to survive the journey.
