Tom Cruise may not be onboard but Paramount is reportedly marketing Mission: Impossible 8 as the final film in the franchise

Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt may not appear in another film after the eighth Mission: Impossible film’s title was revealed to be The ‘Final’ Reckoning. Despite Cruise’s plans to stay in the character for several more years, it appears that Ethan Hunt will either retire or die at the end of this film. There are also rumors that Cruise will likely pass the baton down to another actor.

Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning | Credits: Paramount Pictures

According to reports, Cruise might want his Top Gun: Maverick co-star Glen Powell to take his place in the franchise. With his recent fame and the immense support from Cruise for his ventures, Powell’s potential turn as an IMF agent is not too far along.

Mission: Impossible 8 To Be Tom Cruise’s Last IMF Adventure?

Paramount Pictures has released the trailer of the eighth Mission: Impossible film. The title of the film was kept in the dark for a long time after Paramount earlier dropped “Part One” from the title of the seventh film. The eighth film will be The Final Reckoning, a possible hint at Tom Cruise being on his final MI adventure.

Earlier, Cruise had shared that he wanted to keep making the Mission: Impossible films until the age of 80, just like Harrison Ford (via Variety). However, Screenrant reported that Paramount Pictures wanted to market the film as the final installment in the franchise. The decision is mainly due to the failure of Dead Reckoning to become profitable at the box office.

The news and rumors about Mission: Impossible 8 have already prompted fans to speculate on what would happen to Cruise’s Ethan Hunt in the film. Some speculate that he would retire from the spy agency and go on to lead a normal life. However, others feel that Paramount could make the film permanently final by killing off Hunt at the end of the film.

While the fate of the character looms over our heads, another interesting rumor has been widely circulated on the internet. According to many fans, Cruise will pass the baton on to the next IMF agent to lead the impossible missions. Fans believe that the Jerry Maguire actor will probably choose Glen Powell as his protégé.

Will Glen Powell Take Over The Franchise From Tom Cruise?

Glen Powell in a still from Hit Man | Credits: Netflix

According to Screenrant, The Final Reckoning is set to be made on a budget of $400 million. While Tom Cruise is reportedly set to make his grand exit, some reports suggest that he will handpick his next guy to take over the franchise. The Insneider reported that Cruise will pick Glen Powell to replace him as the lead of Mission: Impossible (via World of Reel).

After starring alongside Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick, Powell saw a quick growth in his career graph. He produced back-to-back hits with Anyone But You and Richard Linklater’s Hitman. Cruise even appeared at the premiere of Powell’s Twisters this year, which went on to become a summer blockbuster. He is also set to star in the films of J.J. Abrams and Edgar Wright.

Powell too responded to the viral rumors of him replacing Cruise in Mission: Impossible. The Pat McAfee Show decided to FaceTime Powell and told him the rumors, adding, “We just want to call and say congratulations, brother” (via Variety). Powell had a humorous response, sharing that his “mom would never let me do that.”

He further added that the action-packed film was famous for being the “worst gig in town.” He also called the Mission: Impossible role “a death trap.” However, fans still believe that something is cooking behind the scenes.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is set to hit the theaters on May 23, 2025.