Holt McCallany Calls Joining Tom Cruise in ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ a Privilege

The actor praises Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie as he gears up to play the Secretary of Defense in the eighth and final installment of the iconic action franchise.

As Tom Cruise prepares to make one final leap as Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, his new co-star Holt McCallany is sharing his excitement and admiration for being part of the legendary franchise.

Speaking at the New York City premiere of his upcoming film The Amateur, McCallany reflected on his experience working alongside Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie, known affectionately on set as “McQ.”

“Tom is the biggest movie star in the world — and there’s a reason for that,” McCallany told People.
“It was a privilege to work for Chris McQ — a great writer, director, and human being.”

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🎥 Final Mission, High Stakes

McCallany will portray Secretary of Defense Bernstein in The Final Reckoning, which hits theaters on May 23, 2025. The film picks up directly after 2023’s Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, as Hunt and his team battle the ominous threat of “The Entity,” a rogue artificial intelligence threatening global destruction.

“I haven’t seen the film yet,” McCallany admitted, “but I’ve seen all of the preceding ones. It’s a great franchise. I was really happy to be a part of it — especially in what’s going to be the last installment.”

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🧨 Returning Cast & Legacy

The star-studded lineup includes familiar faces returning to the action-packed series:

• Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell
• Simon Pegg as Benji Dunn
• Vanessa Kirby, Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, Shea Whigham, and Henry Czerny

With over two decades of explosive stunts, globe-trotting adventures, and espionage twists, The Final Reckoning promises to close the curtain on one of Hollywood’s most thrilling franchises.

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📅 Release Date:

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning arrives in theaters on May 23, 2025.