Director Christopher McQuarrie has promised fans that the forthcoming two-parter, Dead Reckoning, will not signal the end of the action-packed series and that the Mission: Impossible franchise is still very much alive. In fact, McQuarrie has ideas in the works for what will happen next in the fast-paced world of Ethan Hunt and his challenging missions.
Rumours had been circulating, fanned by Variety publications, that Tom Cruise’s legendary character, Ethan Hunt, would get a “sendoff” in Dead Reckoning, leaving up the prospect of the franchise continuing without its adored protagonist. McQuarrie quickly refuted these rumours, saying that the plot will continue beyond Dead Reckoning.
In a conversation with Fandango, McQuarrie averred, “It’s not the end. We have ideas for what comes next.”
McQuarrie explained the series’s view of rivalry by stating that characters like James Bond or John Wick are not seen as competitors by the franchise. Instead, the director praised those films and the people who made them, saying, “We love those movies, and we admire those filmmakers, and we want to see those guys win. All we’re really doing is competing with ourselves.”
McQuarrie was inspired by the planned Top Gun sequel and made a commitment to outdo its accomplishments with a strong focus on pushing the envelope and building on prior successes. “We’re going to bury those guys. We’re going to crush Top Gun,” he announced. The director’s determination to raise the bar promises audiences more thrilling missions and mind-bending stunts in the future.
On July 10 in the UK and July 12 in the US, Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One, starring Tom Cruise and a stellar ensemble cast that includes Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, and Vanessa Kirby, will be released in theatres. The second installment is already set on July 28, 2024.
