In 1996, 34-year-old Tom Cruise walked the red carpet for the premiere of the first Mission: Impossible film, an action-packed spy thriller based on the series of the same name created by Bruce Geller. Earlier this month, Cruise, now 62, walked the carpet for what could be his last time promoting Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible 8 – The Final Reckoning. The actor not only portrayed the suave, sharp, agile and daring Hunt—he became him, to a point where many often associated Cruise and Hunt as the same.
Additionally, Cruise's stunt double is probably the most unemployed man alive as the actor is famously known for doing his own action sequences, giving his crew a heart attack every time he attempts—and subsequently nails—a stunt, i.e.: hanging off a plane.
Reminiscing, the actor recently posted a carousal of photos on his social media, tracking his 30-year journey with the franchise, and penned an emotional note for his fans and the team that stood by him for decades.
In the caption, he wrote: “Over 30 years ago, I began the journey of producing my first film, Mission: Impossible. Since then, these eight films have taken me on the adventure of a lifetime. To the incredible directors, actors, artists, and crews across the globe that have helped bring these stories to life, I thank you. It has been a privilege to work alongside you all.”
“Most importantly, I want to thank the audience, for whom it is our great pleasure to create these films, and for whom we all serve. We’re thrilled to share The Final Reckoning with you,” he concluded.
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While it has not been officially announced as Cruise’s swan song as Hunt, The Final Reckoning seems to be the perfect conclusion. Yet, as we are now in the era of remakes, prequels, and sequels, seeing the actor portray Hunt again would not come as a surprise.
But for now, the mission, if you choose to accept, is to come to terms with the indefinite closure of this thrilling chapter.