When the seventh and eight installments of Mission: Impossible were announced as Dead Reckoning Part One and Dead Reckoning Part Two to be filmed back-to-back, many fans naturally assumed the two-parter signified the end of the franchise. Most trades picked up on the story as well and, coupled with star Tom Cruise’s age, lead many to conclude that there may not be any more Mission: Impossible movies after Dead Reckoning. But as the movie garners impressive first reactions and creates buzz, it seems some of the film’s team is stepping forward to clarify these reports as being untrue.
Director Christopher McQuarrie is first on the list. McQuarrie revealed to Fandango that the two Dead Reckoning movies are certainly not the end of the franchise. He went a step further and revealed that he already has plans for what comes next. This is unargaubly the most concrete confirmation of a Mission: Impossible 9. If true, this would make it McQuarrie’s fifth Mission: Impossible film.
McQuarrie wasn’t the only one jumping in on a new MI movie bandwagon. Actor Simon Pegg who plays Benji Dunn in the movie was asked how he feels about the closing chapters on the movie, to which he flat out replied that no one’s told him it’s the end of the franchise. He went on to state that he’d be happily watching these movies in theaters if there were more of them.
Both these soundbites could mean that while the filmmaking team has a fair idea of what they’d do with the franchise, they could very well be taking a wait-and-see approach to assess how things play out for the two-parter before taking the plunge on a ninth installment. If Dead Reckoning becomes the first Mission: Impossible movie to cross the $1 billion mark, there’s every chance that Cruise and McQuarrie will make a next one happen.
For now, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One hits theaters on July 12, 2023. Its sequel, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two releases next year on June 28, 2024.
