Christopher McQuarrie, the director behind the Mission: Impossible franchise, revealed a surprising contemplation: he considered killing off Tom Cruise’s iconic character, Ethan Hunt. Despite Hunt ultimately surviving the latest installment, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, McQuarrie admitted to a moment of temptation to conclude Hunt’s story permanently.
In an interview with Empire magazine about The Final Reckoning, the filmmaker stated, “Everything is on the table.” He elaborated on a specific moment during editing the final sequence: “There was a moment in the editing of the final sequence of the movie where Ethan goes spinning into that cloud bank where I thought, ‘If you cut to his grave right now, you’d feel the sacrifice was sufficient. Wow, that’s very, very effective.’”
However, McQuarrie clarified his perspective on narrative conclusions. He explained, “The idea of a conclusion of a story being the death of that character… they are not one and the same. When you fully tie off the story, the story ceases to be. And that’s not life. Stories go on, whether or not the movies do.”
Keeping Hunt alive also preserves potential for a ninth Mission: Impossible film. The director noted, “Tom Cruise is a force of nature, and a very, very tricky one. I’d only do it if it was the movie I desperately wanted to make.”
Tom Cruise’s Record-Breaking Stunt for The Final Reckoning
In a testament to his dedication, Tom Cruise performed a breathtaking stunt for his The Final Reckoning scene. He jumped out of a helicopter 16 times while strapped to a parachute that was intentionally pre-soaked in fuel and set ablaze. This incredible feat earned him the Guinness World Record for “most burning parachute jumps by an individual.”
Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of Guinness World Records, lauded Cruise’s commitment in a statement: “Tom doesn’t just play action heroes – he is an action hero! A large part of his success can be chalked up to his absolute focus on authenticity and pushing the boundaries of what a leading man can do. It’s an honour to be able to recognise his utter fearlessness with this new Guinness World Records title.”
