Tom Cruise will entertain audiences after a four-year absence from the big screen with the tentatively titled Mission: Impossible 7. The movie was delayed from its initial release date to September 30, 2022, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this has allowed its hype to heat up even further.
Ethan Hunt and his IMF team will return once more, which will lead to an eighth film that is expected to release a year later. With some things known to fans already and certain other things discerned from the series’ previous entries, there are enough reasons to worry as there are to be excited. It’s worth looking into both aspects to be prepared for what’s to come in the next film.
Excited
Another Big-Time Stunt By Tom Cruise
It’s a little-known fact that Tom Cruise has starred in incredible action movies, with the Mission: Impossible series presenting one jaw-dropping stunt after another in each entry. The seventh film is set to continue this tradition, with Cruise once again engaging in stunning practical effects.
The latest entry will feature Cruise on a dirtbike on a cliff that will drive off a ramp, with the actor then freefalling on his own in midair to open up a parachute. After his earlier exploits of scaling the Burj Khalifa, holding on to a flying plane, and falling hundreds of feet from the sky, the seventh movie’s stunt appears to up the ante even further.
Return Of The Primary Cast
By the fourth Mission: Impossible movie, the franchise developed a tried-and-tested cast of characters who are now considered part of the core team after the previous entries tended to jumble them every time. The chemistry between the characters is one of the reasons for the franchise’s recent success, and the majority are set to return.
While some absences like William Brandt and Alan Hunley won’t be there (the latter’s character was killed off), the likes of Benji Dunn, Ilsa Faust, and Luther Stickell are back to aid Ethan Hunt once again. The characters are expected to be together when the story begins, which will please fans further because they will be seen as a team.
Hayley Atwell’s Interesting New Character
Hayley Atwell has joined the series as Grace, a mysterious new character who has been described as a “force of nature” by director Christopher McQuarrie. Unlike the other supporting characters, Grace is expected to be villainous, yet not be on the side of the villains, which makes her loyalties and motives highly ambiguous.
Ilsa Faust had a relatively similar persona in the fifth film but was established as a protagonist earlier on, whereas Atwell’s character leaves a lot for fans to speculate over. With Ethan having met so many heroes and antagonists by now, it’s interesting to see how Grace will get one up over such a seasoned operative as him.
A New Challenge For Ethan Hunt
While the previous two movies continued the series’ benchmark for success, they were weighed down by the same villains of the Syndicate/Apostles. The latest entry is meant to be a refresh for Ethan, as the villain will be played by Esai Morales for what will be something new for Ethan to combat against.
It also means that Ethan will have a brand new antagonist or faction to challenge since the fourth film, so fans can expect a different atmosphere surrounding the story. Ethan was aware of who Solomon Lane was and how he operated, but a new villain will make him try out different tactics that ensure the experience of the movie will be an original one.
Depiction Of Ilsa’s Role After Her Freedom
The series has dedicated a lot of time to answer questions about Ethan Hunt, but the seventh movie will need to do so with Ilsa as well. After all, fans aren’t fully aware of who she is supposed to be outside of her attempts to gain her freedom from MI6, which was her arc in the last two entries.
There’s much to look forward to with Ilsa now, as she has the freedom to do whatever she pleases, although it appears as if she might have joined the IMF. Whatever course the story takes with her, Ilsa will be an exciting character to follow now that she doesn’t have the burden of serving the MI6 anymore.
Worry
Presence Of Sequel Hooks
The series has showcased an overarching premise for Ethan but every entry can be seen as a standalone story with some plot threads connecting one to the other. However, the seventh film is set to be a two-parter with the eighth, meaning it’s one big plotline separated.
Since the next film will be the culmination of the story, there’s a good chance a lot of the seventh movie comprises sequel hooks that might make it feel incomplete in many areas. This is a common practice in many franchises, as the setups justify the eventual payoffs, but that would still hinder the enjoyability of the next installment.
Chance Of A Recycled Villain
There haven’t been any shortage of villains in the Mission: Impossible series, yet the previous two entries have recycled Solomon Lane. The sixth entry was marketed as featuring a new antagonist, only for Lane to be revealed as the true villain again.
There’s a chance the next movie might follow the same practice for shock value purposes, but this would be a step in the wrong direction because fans have had their fill of Solomon Lane. The idea of any other former villain returning isn’t attractive since the eighth movie will continue the story and it would mean the baddie will return once more in the follow-up a well.
More IMF Drama To Unfold
It’s been high time that the series moves on from the angle of the IMF being disavowed or feature double-crossing agents, as fans want a different outline. However, there’s reason to worry with Henry Czerny’s Eugene Kittridge returning after his appearance in the first movie.
There’s a good chance there’s further drama in the IMF, which doesn’t sound appealing after numerous incidents have already happened in the past, including Jim Phelps and John Musgrave’s betrayal, multiple IMF director deaths, and the CIA always doubting the IMF’s worth.
Likelihood Of A Sentimental Romance Between Ethan And Ilsa
Attempting to add in a sentimental take on romance is one of the mistakes Mission: Impossible films have made in the past, which were pretty much removed altogether from the fourth to sixth entries. However, Ethan and Ilsa were confirmed to have an attraction in the last movie that might be explored in the latest entry.
Fans might not be too enthusiastic about this idea since it was featured heavily in the first three movies to mixed results, with Ethan falling for Claire Phelps, Nyah Nordoff-Hall, and Julia Meade. None of the relationships were the high point of the films and the Ethan-Ilsa partnership could be ruined if the movie makes their romance too sappy in nature.
Potential Cliffhanger Ending
The easiest way to stir up interest for a follow-up movie is by leaving things on an ambiguous note in the previous entry. The seventh movie is most likely going to be the first installment without a definitive ending, which would force fans to wonder what will happen a year later.
Cliffhanger endings aren’t the best for viewers who prefer to watch films in cinemas, as there’s no sense of closure. The next Mission: Impossible will be one of the biggest tentpole releases of 2022, and one that has had excitement built up for four years, so a possible cliffhanger isn’t likely to sit well with fans.
