Plot, Cast Changes, and Filming Delays: Everything We Know

Tom Cruise and Chris McQuarrie are back together for another exciting installment in the Mission: Impossible series, but making the film has proven to be its own mission impossible. Following the success of their seventh installment last year, the duo has faced several challenges, including the SAG-AFTRA strikes and reports of technical difficulties on set.

Despite these setbacks, Tom and Chris are committed to delivering more thrilling adventures for rogue agent Ethan Hunt. There are already hints of an epic underwater stunt, as well as new cast members joining the team. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two aims to push the envelope even further. Here’s what we know about the eighth film in the franchise.

While specific plot details are being kept under wraps, the new film is expected to pick up where Part One left off. Ethan and his team will continue their quest to locate the Sevastopol submarine in their mission to eliminate the Entity, a rogue AI program. Along the way, they will have to deal with the added complication of competing nations looking to weaponize the Entity.

Mission Impossible 8 is scheduled to hit cinemas on May 23, 2025. Initially planned for a 2024 release, the film was pushed back due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes. Fans will have to wait a bit longer to see Ethan Hunt’s latest exploits on the big screen.

The confirmed cast members for the upcoming film include Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Pom Klementieff, Cary Elwes, Vanessa Kirby, and Esai Morales, among others. With Ilsa Faust, played by Rebecca Ferguson, meeting her end in Part One, it’s unclear if she will appear in the new film.

In addition, actor and stunt performer Stephen Oyoung has joined the cast in an undisclosed role. Announcing the news on Instagram, he expressed his excitement, saying, “Mission accepted! Thank you to Tom Cruise and Chris McQuarrie for having me along for the ride. An absolute dream come true and an incredible master class in filmmaking every day! Can’t wait for you all to see it!”

Director Chris McQuarrie has hinted at an impressive underwater stunt. Speaking to Collider, he said, “Tom and I are constantly reevaluating our own work and asking ourselves how we could have done it better. We’ve done underwater sequences previously. We’ve worked underwater in Edge of Tomorrow, and we worked underwater in Rogue Nation, and we left very dissatisfied with those sequences. And we analyze why we were dissatisfied.”

Chris added, “What were all the factors working against us? The biggest being, not having real knowledge in that area. Everything you’re looking at in Dead Reckoning is the application of knowledge from previous sequences.” He also teased a more significant and better aerial sequence for fans to look forward to.

Mission Impossible 8 has not had an easy production journey. The SAG-AFTRA strikes were the initial hurdle, but filming was eventually able to resume with Tom Cruise spotted on location around London.

However, in May, it was reported that filming had to pause again due to a technical malfunction involving a £23 million submarine. The gimbal used to lower the structure jammed, requiring repairs. Tom Cruise has remained silent on these reports.

Source: Collider, Getty Images