Paul Thomas Anderson expressed interest in directing a Mission: Impossible film, revealing disappointment that the opportunity will not materialize. The renowned filmmaker’s potential involvement would have offered a fresh creative approach to the franchise, which has evolved through contributions by different directors over the years.
How Paul Thomas Anderson’s Vision Could Have Influenced the Mission: Impossible Series
The Mission: Impossible franchise has traditionally allowed diverse directors to impart their unique styles, starting with Brian De Palma’s Hitchcock-inspired tension and extending through John Woo’s high-octane spectacle and Brad Bird’s retro spy homage. Despite Christopher McQuarrie becoming the steady auteur behind recent installments thanks to a strong partnership with Tom Cruise, Anderson stood out as another collaborator who had shown serious interest in taking the helm for one of the films.
Anderson’s connection to Cruise through their prior work on Magnolia, frequently regarded as one of Cruise’s finest performances, positioned him as a natural candidate. Although often labeled an arthouse filmmaker, Anderson’s ability to handle compelling action sequences was demonstrated in One Battle After Another. This established that he could potentially design an action-driven, yet more character-focused conclusion to the Mission: Impossible saga, even after The Final Reckoning was positioned as the final chapter for Ethan Hunt.
Why Anderson’s Style Would Align Well with the Franchise’s Evolution
It may feel surprising that Anderson, who had not yet directed a blockbuster, was considered for such a large-scale project. However, the series has a history of onboarding directors before their widespread acclaim: J.J. Abrams had no feature film credits before helming Mission: Impossible III, Brad Bird transitioned from animation, and McQuarrie had helmed only a few moderate films. Anderson possessed a blend of technical skill and passionate storytelling, highlighted by films like There Will Be Blood, notable for its stunning cinematography and immersive sound design alongside powerful performances from actors like Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Dano.
Anderson has openly admired blockbuster action movies such as Edge of Tomorrow and Terminator 2: Judgment Day, signaling an appreciation that aligns well with the Mission: Impossible ethos. His proven ability to extract nuanced performances from Tom Cruise suggests the possibility of elevating Ethan Hunt’s character beyond the usual franchise fare. Additionally, Anderson is adept at managing large ensemble casts, as demonstrated in Boogie Nights, Licorice Pizza, and Magnolia, which contrasts with how recent sequels have underutilized key ensemble members like Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, and Rebecca Ferguson.
The franchise’s struggle to develop memorable villains might also have been addressed through Anderson’s frequent collaborator Philip Seymour Hoffman, who played arguably the best antagonist in the franchise’s history and also worked on Magnolia with Cruise.
How Anderson Could Have Enhanced the Franchise’s Future Beyond ‘The Final Reckoning’
Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning achieved a notable box office milestone by outperforming its predecessor despite mixed financial results due to its expensive production. Audience enthusiasm for the series remains strong, but continuing without Cruise would be difficult to justify financially. Paramount Pictures could potentially benefit from directing a new sequel under Anderson’s guidance, focusing on a more grounded and mystery-driven narrative, reminiscent of his films Inherent Vice and Hard Eight.
Anderson’s capacity to infuse humor into his films, demonstrated most recently in One Battle After Another, would bring a fresh balance to the franchise, which has been criticized for a sometimes humorless tone under McQuarrie’s direction. The Final Reckoning, while ambitious, suffered from an overly complex plot and heavy reliance on nostalgic callbacks, which made the story feel cumbersome rather than engaging.
The best way to revive the franchise might be to return to its origins, emphasizing standalone adventures led by a new creative voice. Given the strong reception for Anderson’s recent work, he would likely have ample freedom to shape the next Mission: Impossible on his terms. If his interest in directing one of these films remains genuine and Cruise continues to pursue serious acting roles, their reunion could produce a compelling and fitting conclusion or continuation for Ethan Hunt’s story.
Key Performers in Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning
The latest film starred Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, alongside Hayley Atwell portraying Grace. Both actors brought depth to their roles in a complex and action-packed narrative that aimed to honor the long-running legacy of the franchise while pushing its boundaries.
