As excited fans are to see Tom Cruise back as Ethan Hunt in the next Mission Impossible franchise, however, there is a problem: The trailer for the eighth Mission: Impossible film, which has just been released, with a new title “The Final Reckoning” suggests it might be Tom Cruise’s final mission.
“Our lives are the sum of our choices. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. See you at the movies May 23, 2025,” Cruise revealed the title on his Instagram page.
View this post on Instagram
Mission: Impossible 8’s title is a sure sign that the one of the most beloved franchises in cinema history is coming to an end. The Final Reckoning, which is set to be released next summer, was originally intended to be the second chapter of 2023’s Dead Reckoning, with a title of Dead Reckoning Part Two.
As if the title wasn’t a big enough sign, the teaser of the movie is an even clearer sign of the franchise’s impending end as Mission: Impossible 8’s trailer takes it a step further. The epic teaser does not shy away from moments or dialogue that play up the idea that this is the final adventure for Cruise’s Ethan Hunt. At the very end of the footage, Hunt says, “I need you to trust me, one last time,” to someone off-camera. That’s possibly an acknowledgment from Ethan that this is his last impossible mission.
However, the trailer could be misleading viewers in some regard with this line.
With the return of longstanding cast members Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg, along with newcomers Hayley Atwell and Pom Klementieff, the new movie will continue the events of “Dead Reckoning.” Along with Hannah Waddingham, Angela Bassett and Vanessa Kirby will also be returning.
Alejandro G. Iñárritu, the director of The Revenant and Birdman, is presently filming in the UK with Cruise. It also features John Goodman and Sandra Hüller. Recently, he was also linked to a potential Days of Thunder follow-up.