Mission Impossible – Final Reckoning brings Tom Cruise to the Cannes Film Festival

The Cannes Film Festival is the home of world and independent cinema – but is never above adding some Hollywood stardust to the mix. Traditionally, they invite a major studio release to open the festival but not compete. Occasionally, this can be a bit jarring – like when they invited Shrek II to open in 2004 (Fahernheit 9/11 and Old Boy were competing). This year, they have netted another biggie – Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning, with and by Tom Cruise.

On Wednesday, May 14, actor and producer Cruise, his long-time co-writer, director and screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie and the cast will walk the red carpet of the Palais des Festivals.

This will be Cruise’s third appearance on the Croisette. In 1992, he was in town for the premiere of Ron Howard’s Far and Away. In 2022, he premiered his own Top Gun: Maverick. He also gave a noted masterclass and picked up an honorary Palme d’Or (which this year is going to Robert De Niro).

The final final Mission Impossible?

In Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt, who he has portrayed since 1996, and his IMF team ask, “trust me one last time”. Critics are already asking if this will really be the last time, but it’s likely that the movie will fill media headlines, cinemas (and platforms) during the summer.

If you liked the previous ones, the trailer tells me that you will probably like this one too.

Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie are to continue their partnership, working together again, with McQuarrie & Erik Jendresen co-writing the script, from Paramount Pictures (Top Gun, Rocketman) and Skydance.

(Michael Leahy. Photo: ©Paramount Pictures)