At the New York premiere of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Cruise confirmed that this eighth film marks the end of the road for Ethan Hunt, the role he has portrayed since 1996. “It’s the final! It’s not called ‘final’ for nothing,” he told The Hollywood Reporter.
While Cruise once expressed a desire to act into his 80s, citing Harrison Ford as inspiration, he now says his ambition extends well past 100. “I actually said I’m going to make movies into my 80s; actually, I’m going to make them into my 100s,” the 62-year-old said on the red carpet.
As he prepares to close the chapter on one of his most iconic roles, Cruise looked back on what the franchise has meant to him. Reflecting on nearly three decades of playing Ethan Hunt, he noted, “There’s been so many levels of reward—with the filmmakers I’ve collaborated with, the crews, the people, the cultures we’ve worked in. Everything I’ve learned and continue to learn about storytelling, about life, about leadership, about character. It’s been exceptional. I feel very fortunate. I just love making movies.”
Cruise added a lighthearted note when asked about the preparation behind his daring stunts, emphasizing the thought and complexity involved. “There’s a lot of pre-stunt rituals that keep me alive,” he joked. “It depends on what I’m doing and the amount of preparation I have to do.”
Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, The Final Reckoning also stars Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Pom Klementieff, and more. McQuarrie described Cruise as “the most giving, most game… a great teacher and a great student.”