‘Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ has fans speculating

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Tom Cruise is back with the Mission Impossible franchise, possibly for the very last time, since the subtitle of his new film is The Final Reckoning. Super Bowl LIX on February 9 saw a 30-second trailer from the forthcoming film, jam-packed with Cruise’s wild stunts.

Cruise and the filmmakers teased the possibility that this is the end with the new trailer’s first line: “I need you to trust me…one last time.” While Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie have not confirmed that this film marks the franchise’s finale, they do promise that it will tie-up plot threads from previous films. At a reported $400 million production cost, clearly no expense is being spared to do just that.

Cruise is reprising his role as Ethan Hunt, alongside returning cast members Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, and Vanessa Kirby. New additions to the cast include Nick Offerman and Bob Odenkirk.

The film also introduces new team members, including Paris (Pom Klementieff), an assassin seeking redemption, and Degas (Greg Tarzan Davis).

What we know of the plot has fans wondering about the how and why of things that will be resolved. They’re also pining for the return of Rebecca Ferguson’s “Ilsa,” who died in the last film.

The storyline on Final Reckoning that has been revealed states that Hunt and his team are tracking down the last of “The Entity,” an AI system unleashed by the global syndicate, “The Catalyst.” The AI threatens global security in pursuit of its own ambitions in global communications, finance, and military operations..

Along the way, Ethan’s loyalty to the IMF is tested. The return of a long-dead colleague has been teased, resulting in an Ethan quandary about whether he can save his team or the mission.

The locations for the shoot include Patagonia, the streets of Tokyo, and an ancient Middle Eastern city, with stunts including a spectacular biplane maneuver that shows off the daredevil side of Cruise, who famously does his own stunts.

Fan speculation centers on whether this Final Reckoning will indeed pay off the threads established in predecessor Dead Reckoning.