7 Mission: Impossible characters missing from The Final Reckoning

Among various female figures in Ethan Hunt’s love life, it’s worth noting Nyah and IMF agent Claire, but it’s only Julia Meade from Mission: Impossible III that he ultimately chose to marry.

The third film starts with Ethan enjoying retirement and blissfully married to nurse Julia, unaware of his previous profession. However, when Ethan is summoned to apprehend arms dealer Owen Davian, it doesn’t take long for their marriage as Julia discovers Ethan’s secret life of danger when she gets kidnapped by Davian. Determined to save her, Ethan confronts Davian and, inevitably, defeats him in a violent encounter. With Davian dispatched, the newlyweds embark on their honeymoon.

Prior to the events of Ghost Protocol, Ethan comes to understand that Julia’s life will consistently be at risk if she remains with him. Instead of simply divorcing her, he arranges for her death to appear as if it has occurred, allowing her to start a new life free from constant threats and danger.

Seven years have passed, and they cross paths once more in the story of Fallout. It’s at a medical facility in Kashmir where Ethan unexpectedly encounters Julia, now married to Erik. They have a heartfelt exchange where Ethan expresses regret for endangering her (once more) and Julia acknowledges his role in safeguarding the world and her new life, thus concluding their story on a fitting note of resolution.

In the movie “Mission: Impossible 2”, Nyah Nordoff-Hall played a pivotal role. She was a skilled burglar with an intriguing past, having previously been in a relationship with the film’s antagonist, Sean Ambrose. Simultaneously, she developed a romantic connection with Ethan and agreed to rekindle her relationship with Sean to aid Ethan in apprehending him before he could unleash the dangerous Chimera virus globally.

Instead of injecting herself with the lethal virus, Nyah chose to be saved by Ethan, who administered an antidote instead. The film ended with them enjoying a peaceful vacation in Sydney, Australia, taking some well-deserved time off after having saved the world. Yet, their relationship seemed to have fizzled out as Nyah was absent for the third movie, which took place six years later.

In the gaming world, it’s been quiet on the franchise front regarding Nyah, but I’ve stumbled upon some captivating Mission: Impossible fan-made stories. These tales spin a yarn where Nyah and Ethan share a life together for a while, only for her to tragically meet an end in their shared apartment, brutally struck down by gunfire.

In reality, it’s said that Thandiwe Newton declined the opportunity to reappear in the third film. However, in a 2020 conversation with Vulture, she stated, “I was not approached.

In the fourth film, titled “Ghost Protocol,” William Brandt debuted as a government analyst. He was swiftly drawn into the thick of things when Ethan Hunt and his crew attempted to halt the illicit sale of launch codes at the Burj Khalifa skyscraper in Dubai, finding himself in the midst of action right from the start.

It turns out that Brandt and Ethan share a past – Brandt was once an undercover operative who had been surreptitiously safeguarding Ethan’s wife Julia following the occurrences of Mission: Impossible III. However, he carries the burden of guilt for her death. Towards the end of the film, Ethan discloses that Julia’s demise was actually a ruse, allowing her to assume a new identity. In the movie’s conclusion, a relieved Brandt decides to join the IMF team.

In a different version of events: He went back for the movie “Rogue Nation,” taking on a role with the CIA after Ethan’s actions led to the destruction of several iconic structures, resulting in the IMF being dismantled. However, despite the IMF being reactivated, Brandt didn’t come back for “Fallout.” In a 2024 interview, Jeremy Renner shared that he declined another appearance because they planned on writing off Brandt’s character.

It appears that Brandt, in contrast to expectations, chose to step away from the Impossible Mission series, and didn’t make an appearance in “The Final Reckoning.” In a conversation with Josh Horowitz on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, Renner shared his decision was influenced by his desire to spend more time with his daughter. He found the five-year production for the last two Mission: Impossible films demanded too much of a long-term commitment.

In the movie “Ghost Protocol”, character Jane Carter, previously Hanaway’s handler who met her demise, made an appearance. She collaborated with Ethan, Benji, and Brandt in a mission to prevent the unlawful sale of misappropriated nuclear launch codes. To gather crucial data for their operation, she charmed Indian media magnate Brij Nath.

In the concluding scene of the film, Jane remains a member of the IMF team. However, she was absent in “Rogue Nation” and all the following films, leaving the story open for interpretation about her whereabouts or further involvement.

Back in 2015, during a question-and-answer session with fans, director Christopher McQuarrie shared that he had attempted to bring back both Paula and Maggie Q for the film, but scheduling complications unfortunately barred their reappearance.

In the film “Mission: Impossible III,” Maggie Q portrayed operative Zhen Li, who collaborated with agents Declan Gormley, Benji, and Luther. She played a crucial role in apprehending villain Owen Davian, saving Ethan’s spouse Julia, and ended up surviving to continue her service with the IMF by the movie’s conclusion.

It has been speculated by some fans that Maggie’s scheduling conflicts led to her absence in “Ghost Protocol,” which is why the character played by Paula Patton, named Jane, was added to the team in that movie as a replacement for Maggie.

Back in 2020, during an interview with Yahoo, I shared that I had to disappointingly decline the opportunity to reprise my character not just once, but twice. “I was part of Mission: Impossible III and they wanted me for number four, but I was tied up with a TV show,” I explained. “Then they asked again for number five, but unfortunately, I was already bound by a contract.

Maggie was working on the TV series “Nikita” concurrently with the filming of “Ghost Protocol”, and she was also engaged in the crime drama “Stalker” while “Rogue Nation” was under production.

In the movie “Rogue Nation,” we were introduced to Sean Harris’s character, Solomon Lane, who reappeared in “Fallout.” He is the leader of The Syndicate, an ominous organization consisting of former undercover agents (formerly MI6), and he has a history of malicious intentions. One such plan involves kidnapping Benji and attaching a bomb to him that could potentially destroy half of London.

Lane successfully defused the bomb, yet was deceived into a sealed room filled with gas, rendering him unconscious before further action could be taken. In contrast, in the game ‘Fallout’, which is two years subsequent, Lane resurfaces and is liberated by a militant group known as The Apostles. These radicals aim to shatter the existing power structure by causing explosions globally, utilizing the skills of their former CIA agent, Walker, for assistance.

The plan guides everyone towards Kashmir, a location where Ethan’s ex-spouse, Julia, is employed as a nurse. Following the disarming of The Apostles’ bombs, Walker meets his demise at the hands of Ethan, while Lane is apprehended by MI6 for interrogation. Although it remains unverified, many spectators speculate that MI6 would have eliminated Lane to prevent him from causing further trouble.

In the interview for Rogue Nation, director Christopher McQuarrie revealed that Sean Harris, the actor who played the role, expressed a desire for his character to die. He stated that Harris didn’t want to be part of a franchise movie and even asked McQuarrie to ensure his character met his end, saying, “Promise me you’ll kill me. Just don’t bring me back, because I don’t want to appear in multiple films.

Previously employed by MI6, Ilsa Faust starred in the films “Rogue Nation” and “Fallout”. Tragically, her life was taken by villain Gabriel in “Dead Reckoning”.

Indeed, it’s understandable that everyone had their doubts, thinking it was just an elaborate ruse. However, regrettably, not even Ethan Hunt, who’s known for defying gravity and scaling impossible heights, possesses the power to resurrect the deceased.

Because yes, Ilsa is dead and does not appear in The Final Reckoning. Sorry, guys.