Tom Cruise Hints at End of Mission Impossible? This is What He Said

At Cannes, Cruise seemingly confirms that Mission: Impossible 8 marks the end of Ethan Hunt’s saga after nearly three decades.

May 20, 2025: Tom Cruise may have just confirmed what many fans have been fearing — Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning could be Ethan Hunt’s last ride.

The eighth installment in the long-running action franchise premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday, followed by limited theatrical releases in countries including India, Japan, and South Korea. During a red carpet interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Cruise was asked whether The Final Reckoning was truly the end. As the journalist trailed off with, “Maybe the final reckoning, maybe not…”, Cruise jumped in with a telling reply: “It’s the final. It’s not called final for nothing.”

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This brief but loaded comment has fueled speculation that the Mission: Impossible franchise may finally be concluding after a 29-year run that began in 1996. Cruise, now 62, has headlined all eight films as IMF agent Ethan Hunt, performing many of the franchise’s most dangerous stunts himself.

Fans React to the End of an Era

Reactions online have been mixed. While some fans are celebrating what they believe is a fitting conclusion, others are disheartened at the thought of bidding farewell to one of Hollywood’s most iconic action characters. “This is good. Tom can’t keep doing this in a wheelchair,” joked one user. Another added, “They should end it before it becomes bad.” Meanwhile, some fans have already begun proposing successors — likening the transition to the James Bond franchise.

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Cruise: “I’ll Never Stop Making Movies”

Despite hinting at Ethan Hunt’s swan song, Cruise expressed no intention of retiring from cinema. In the same Cannes interview, he said, “I actually said I’m going to make movies into my 80s — actually, I’m going to make them into my 100s. I will never stop. I will never stop doing action, I will never stop doing drama, comedy films — I’m excited.” He stopped short of confirming whether Mission: Impossible would be part of those future plans.

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About Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

Directed by longtime collaborator Christopher McQuarrie, The Final Reckoning brings back franchise favorites Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Vanessa Kirby, and others. The film opened in Indian theatres on May 17 and will release globally on May 23. It has already raked in ₹33 crore in India and is expected to be a major box office force.

If this truly is the last mission, it looks like Cruise intends to go out with a bang.

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Tom Cruise, Mission Impossible 8, Mission Impossible The Final Reckoning, Ethan Hunt, Cannes Film Festival 2025, Christopher McQuarrie, Hollywood action films, MI franchise end, Tom Cruise retirement, Hayley Atwell