When we hear about Mission: Impossible, what comes to our mind is nothing but Tom Cruise. Headlined by him, his death-defying stunts and powerful acting kept the audience intrigued. The actor portrayed Ethan Hunt with such efficiency that over the years, the franchise and Cruise became synonymous. Now, as reports are rife about Cruise’s exit, speculations are churning that the actor is looking for his perfect replacement for the franchise.
Even though the seventh installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise earned an underwhelming box office collection, he is back with Mission: Impossible- The Final Reckoning. Now, recent reports suggest that this would be Ethan Hunt’s final mission. However, Cruise has denied those speculations and supposedly eyeing Glen Powell for the role. We have no confirmation yet, so here are 5 actors who can replace Cruise as Hunt.
Is Glen Powell the Next Ethan Hunt?
In the recent past, Glen Powell has been gaining a lot of popularity. Ever since he partnered up with Tom Cruise in the Top Gun franchise and donned roles in different genres like Anyone But You, Twisters, and others – his career skyrocketed more than before. Now, he is walking under the radar of becoming Ethan Hunt in the Mission Impossible franchise. Powell’s strong physique and charming presence increased his potential to star in MI movies. But the actor has denied all the speculations and shared his response about it.
In a Variety report, it was stated that ESPN commentator Pat McAfee on his The Pat McAfee Show asked Glen Powell to share his feelings on bagging the role. Denying it, he said,
My mom would never let me do that. It is the worst gig in town, everybody knows that. That’s a death trap!
With this statement, Powell referred to the deadly stunts and physical exhaustion that come with signing the franchise.
However, for so many years, Cruise has been doing it by himself without taking body double.
Is Timothee Chalamet Also in the Run?
Another popular Hollywood actor, Timothee Chalamet has also carved his path as a seasoned actor over the years. From doing movies like Little Women to Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, he has shown his versatility. Chalamet considers Glen Powell to be his rival in the current scenario. So, if Powell isn’t taking up Tom Cruise’s vacant space as Ethan Hunt’s role, that makes Chalamet the perfect candidate to bag the Sci-Fi franchise.
There hasn’t been any released official statement yet, and it is still speculations, but Timothee Chalamet‘s huge fanbase will be extremely excited if this turns out to be true.
Jeremy Renner – Another Potential Actor?
Jeremy Renner has already been a part of the Mission: Impossible franchise by donning William Brandt’s role in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. Brandt’s intelligence, dedication toward the team, and perseverance made him a great asset. On the other hand, Renner has been a part of many famous franchises, including MCU’s Avengers. He would be a perfect pick to take the MI baton ahead.
He is now a huge movie star who has massive films under his belt. So becoming Ethan Hunt will just add another feather to his cap. Jeremy Renner is quite an action freak and we have seen it in his Avenger movies so it won’t be a problem to do those dangerous stunts.
Florence Pugh – Can a Lady Make Great Successor To Tom Cruise’s Legacy?
If any female actor can take up the Mission: Impossible lead role after Tom Cruise, it has to be Florence Pugh. In Black Widow and Hawkeye, we have already seen her doing stunts and dangerous physical sequences with utmost sincerity. Over the years, Pugh has shown her versatility and strength in acting which would make her a great asset in the MI franchise. With each project, she has proved her worth as a powerful actress.
Florence Pugh got a lot of appreciation for her performance in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. She is now gearing up for her new movies We Live in Time and Thunderbolts.
Can Scott Adkins Be Ethan Hunt?
In the action movie genre, Scott Adkins has surely made his name being a martial artist. Over the years, he has honed his skills and proved his acting prowess. His impressive stunts, impeccable martial arts skills, and charming presence have made him quite popular.
Recently, his performance as Killa in John Wick 4 has garnered a lot of appreciation. However, even though he hasn’t done much in mainstream movies, very few would be able to do Tom Cruise-level action scenes in the Mission: Impossible franchise. Adkins can be a potential Ethan Hunt.
Tom Cruise Has No Plan To Leave Mission Impossible Franchise
Well, while the search is still going on for Cruise’s perfect replacement, the actor has no plan to leave the franchise anytime soon. The Top Gun: Maverick actor wants to take inspiration from the Star Wars actor Harrison Ford and continue his journey as Ethan Hunt. In an interview with The Sunday Morning Herald, he said,
Harrison Ford is a legend. I hope to be still going. I’ve got 20 years to catch up with him. I hope to keep making Mission: Impossible films until I’m his age.
Now, as we wait for the confirmation about who finally becomes Ethan Hunt, Tom Cruise’s MI 8 – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is all set to hit the theatres on May 25, 2025.
