Tom Cruise's plans for future movies confirm his Mission: Impossible franchise exit with Mission: Impossible 8. It has been over two decades since Cruise began playing Ethan Hunt, and it has now become the action star's signature role in many ways. That is why it came as somewhat of a surprise when it was reported that Mission: Impossible 8 could be his last in the franchise. While his frequent collaborator writer/director Christopher McQuarrie attempted to dispel this notion, there is mounting evidence that Ethan Hunt's Mission: Impossible story will end with the upcoming sequels.
Even though Tom Cruise is one of the biggest movie stars in the world, his slate of upcoming films is usually quite slim. Beyond Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One and Mission: Impossible 8, his only other known movies have been a possible Edge of Tomorrow sequel and a movie to be shot in space with director Doug Liman. The two projects have been in development for several years as Cruise focuses on his potential Mission: Impossible exit. But the actor is now developing a new action franchise, a musical, and something with Tropic Thunder's Les Grossman. All of these projects have McQuarrie involved and are expected to be made after Tom Cruise wraps up work on Mission: Impossible 8.
If it was not clear before that Mission: Impossible 8 will be Tom Cruise's last, his new busy slate of movies is an obvious sign of just that. Whereas Cruise and McQuarrie have primarily focused their attention on the Mission: Impossible franchise in recent years, they are now preparing to branch off in several directions. The musical and original space movie give Tom Cruise new challenges as a performer beyond the thrilling stunts that come with Ethan Hunt. Meanwhile, Edge of Tomorrow 2 and a Tropic Thunder Les Grossman spinoff allow him to grow existing franchises instead of relying on Mission: Impossible. The most telling of Tom Cruise's movie plans is the original action franchise with McQuarrie, which indicates they want to create something new together instead of remaining in the Mission: Impossible sandbox.
Why Tom Cruise Is Finally Leaving Mission: Impossible
It was only a matter of time before Tom Cruise would have to exit Mission: Impossible, but now it appears he is finally ready to do just that. One of the reasons why he might be prepared to leave Ethan Hunt behind is because he is ready for a new challenge. The Mission: Impossible sequels challenge him in various ways, especially as an entertainer and since Cruise insists on doing his own stunts. However, that is all done behind the safety net of an established IP where audiences relatively know what to expect. The musical movie indicates he is ready to stretch himself more as a performer, while an original action franchise is Tom Cruise's chance to show that he is the real draw for the Mission: Impossible movies.
The timing of Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible exit also comes on the heels of Top Gun: Maverick proving he can succeed outside the franchise. Lackluster performances from Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, The Mummy, and American Made reinforced his commitment to Ethan Hunt. It might be a sequel to one of his iconic movies, but Top Gun: Maverick's massive box office is still surprising. Since it shows that audiences will watch Tom Cruise in major blockbusters outside the Mission: Impossible franchise, the star is undoubtedly as confident as ever that his upcoming movies will be hits too after Mission: Impossible 8.
