Okay, that’s a bit dark. But seriously. Every new movie seems to up the ante. In Dead Reckoning, he drove a motorcycle off a mountain and parachuted down. What’s left? Riding a missile into space? Fighting a bear on a submarine?
Mission Impossible 9 (2026) | Tom Cruise, Mads Mikkelsen, Charlize
The practical issue is that stunts get harder as you age. Tom’s famously said he wants to make movies until he’s 90. But at some point, even his insurance company will say, “Nope. Not covering that base jump.”
Still, he’s a stubborn man. I wouldn’t bet against him. If anyone can make a Mission: Impossible 9 at 80, it’s the guy who broke his ankle on a jump and finished the scene anyway.
The Plot: Where Do You Go From Here?
Let’s talk story. Dead Reckoning left us with a big, evil AI called “The Entity.” That’s a pretty 21st-century villain. But for number 9, they’ll need something fresh. Maybe a rogue clone of Ethan? Or an ancient artifact that can control the weather? Honestly, I’d watch Ethan Hunt hunt down a stolen sandwich at this point.
The series has always been good at reinventing itself. One minute it’s about a double agent, the next it’s about a nuclear football. Then it’s about a ghost protocol. Then AI. For #9, they’ll probably just have Ethan say “I need to save the world” and we’ll all nod along.
My guess? A time travel plot. Why not? Everyone else is doing it. Ethan Hunt in the 1920s, fighting a rogue magician. I’d pay double.
