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Mission: Impossible 8 Explains Why Fans Can’t Have Ilsa Back Despite Backlash

BBG News

In the popular action movie franchise starring Tom Cruise, multiple characters from past films reappear, hinting at what might be the final chapter. Interestingly, one character who met his end in a previous sequel won’t make a comeback in this newest installment. Director Christopher McQuarrie offers a plausible explanation for this change.

In an interview with John Horowitz on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, McQuarrie discussed the death of Ilsa Faust, played by Rebecca Ferguson, in the movie and why she wasn’t resurrected in “The Final Reckoning,” despite fan demands for her return. Despite criticism over Ilsa’s demise, McQuarrie argued that it was better not to resurrect her because her death symbolized a sense of realism and finality within the film series, adding more emotional depth and authenticity.

In a nutshell, it comes down to weighing costs against benefits. Throughout all the Mission: Impossible movies, Ethan has consistently seen important characters meet their end. Until now, no character who had such a profound impact on the audience had perished. Some viewers were displeased with how this happened, but McQuarrie stated that he wouldn’t consider reversing something crucial to the series – the fact that death is irreversible and gives Mission: Impossible its edge.

Ilsa Faust Became a Beloved Mission: Impossible Staple

In the movie “Rogue Nation,” we were introduced to Ilsa, a former MI6 agent who joined forces with Ethan Hunt, played by Tom Cruise. She quickly became a beloved character due to her unpredictable nature and sharp wit, appearing in the following two sequels as well. However, in “Dead Reckoning,” Ilsa met her tragic end when she was fatally stabbed by Gabriel (Esai Morales), an emissary of the Entity, during a fierce fight on a Venice bridge. This unexpected turn of events left many viewers in shock.

In actuality, Ilsa’s storyline ending in the Mission: Impossible series stemmed from Ferguson choosing to depart from the franchise once she fulfilled her three-movie contract. She expressed that she had grown into a team player, preferring to preserve Ilsa’s rebellious side and the traits that endeared her to fans. Moreover, she desired more screen time for Ilsa within the series, although she cherished working alongside Cruise, McQuarrie, and the rest of the team.

Following her departure from the Mission: Impossible series after Dead Reckoning, Ferguson has reprised her role in the Dune franchise for Part Two and will be featured in Netflix’s Peaky Blinders film titled The Immortal Man. She also starred in Season 2 of Apple TV’s critically acclaimed sci-fi dystopian series, Silo, which garnered widespread praise.

The Final Reckoning, possibly the concluding chapter for the Mission: Impossible series, finds Hunt and his IMF team persisting in their struggle against the Entity and Gabriel. Since its debut on May 23, the movie has accumulated a global gross of $204.5 million and maintains an impressive 80% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Tom Cruise stars alongside series regulars like Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Henry Czerny, as well as guest appearances by Angela Bassett, Pom Klementieff, Shea Whigham, Greg Tarzan Davis, Nick Offerman, and Hannah Waddingham.

is now showing in theaters across North America.

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2025-05-26 23:35

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