As anticipation builds for the latest installment in the adrenaline-fueled "Mission: Impossible" saga, the film's stars and director have been playfully fueling speculation about the franchise's longevity. The $400-million epic, the eighth in the series, titled "The Final Reckoning," has some fans wondering if this high-octane ride is nearing its conclusion.
Adding to the intrigue, the seemingly ageless star of the franchise, Tom Cruise, 62, has been captivating audiences with behind-the-scenes glimpses of the daring stunts he executed for the film. His social media has been abuzz with heart-stopping footage, including discussions of a breathtaking freefall jump from a helicopter soaring 10,000 feet above a South African mountain range. Cameras strapped to his body captured the high-speed spin as he plunged from the aircraft, underscoring his unwavering commitment to delivering unparalleled action.
Against this backdrop of thrilling on-screen promises, "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" is poised to inject a dose of high-octane excitement into the Cannes Film Festival. This stands in contrast to the festival's politically charged opening, which was marked by accusations of Hollywood's silence on the situation in Gaza and the somber news of French screen legend Gerard Depardieu's conviction for sexual assault.
Even the typically unflappable optimism surrounding Cruise and his globally successful franchise appeared to face a ripple of concern. The entertainment industry has been shaken by a proposal from the former US President to impose tariffs on movies produced in foreign lands. Given the "Mission: Impossible" franchise's extensive international footprint, with filming locations spanning from the Arctic to Venice and Shanghai, this potential policy loomed as a significant threat. However, when questioned about these tariffs and the franchise's globe-trotting nature during a promotional event in South Korea, Cruise firmly steered the conversation back to the film, stating tersely, "We'd rather answer questions about the movie. Thank you."
A potential silver lining for the franchise lies in a past statement from the former president, who indicated a willingness to make an exception for the James Bond films – a series predominantly filmed in the United Kingdom. This apparent favor stemmed from the late Sean Connery's assistance in securing planning permission for the former president's Scottish golf course. Notably, Cruise's franchise also relies significantly on London-based studios.
Despite these underlying industry anxieties, a palpable sense of excitement is expected to envelop the Cannes red carpet as the seemingly indefatigable Cruise arrives for the premiere of "The Final Reckoning" at 1645 GMT on Wednesday.
For eager fans, the question of whether this marks the final chapter for the iconic secret agent Ethan Hunt will begin to be answered with the film's release across Europe and the Middle East from May 21st. Audiences in the US and several other countries will have to wait a few extra days to witness the outcome, while cinemagoers in India, Australia, and Korea will be among the first to experience the film over the weekend.
Adding another layer of cinematic pedigree to the festival, Christopher McQuarrie, the director of "The Final Reckoning" and the acclaimed writer behind the 1993 classic "The Usual Suspects," is scheduled to deliver a masterclass earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, veteran American actor Robert De Niro, a vocal critic of the former US President, used the platform of Tuesday's opening ceremony, where he received a lifetime achievement award, to voice his strong opposition to the proposed film tariffs. Accepting an honorary Palme d’Or from his friend and frequent co-star Leonardo DiCaprio, De Niro passionately declared, “You can’t put a price on creativity. But apparently, you can put a tariff on it.”
In a fiery speech, he urged “everyone who cares about liberty to organise, to protest," asserting that “all these attacks are unacceptable. This is not just an American problem, it is a global one.” De Niro emphasized, “In my country we are fighting like hell for democracy,” adding that “art embraces diversity. That’s why art is a threat. That’s why we are a threat to autocrats and fascists.”
The festival's opening also saw jury head Juliette Binoche deliver a moving tribute to Fatima Hassouna, a Gazan photographer tragically killed in an Israeli air strike last month along with her family. A documentary about the 25-year-old was selected to premiere at Cannes, and Binoche poignantly remarked, "She should have been here tonight with us." Adding to the festival's reflective tone, "Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk," a film by exiled Iranian director Sepideh Farsi, is scheduled to be screened on Thursday.