Simon Pegg claims that his role in the Mission: Impossible franchise saved him when he was in need of direction. Pegg has appeared in six Mission: Impossible movies, starting with a small role in J.J. Abrams’ Mission: Impossible III. His character Benji has gone from an IT geek to a fully-fledged field agent, becoming one of Ethan Hunt’s most trusted allies in the process. With Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning just around the corner, Pegg has been looking back on the franchise that changed his career, and his personal life.
In an interview with Variety, Pegg discussed his fondness for the Mission: Impossible franchise and his plans for the future. He revealed that he had been dealing with depression and alcoholism when he was first cast in Mission: Impossible III, and that he showed up to his first day on set with a hangover. Fortunately, when Pegg took a more pivotal role in the sequel, Ghost Protocol, it motivated him to take care of himself more. He credits Tom Cruise, J.J. Abrams and Ghost Protocol director Brad Bird with helping him get in shape and access the help that he needed.
“I kind of found this joy in looking after myself and just realizing that if I ate well and went to the gym I could actually feel good. So I credit ‘Mission’ with rescuing me — because it gave me real focus at a time when I needed focus. And I just had the best time on ‘Ghost Protocol.’”
What This Means For Simon Pegg And Mission: Impossible
The Actor Became A Crucial Part Of The Franchise
Mission: Impossible fans may not know about Pegg’s mental health struggles, but his honesty is admirable. The fact that he managed to find the direction that he needed in life is a great success story, and, as a bonus, it was a boost for the Mission: Impossible franchise. Although Pegg’s role has evolved over the years, he’s always there to provide comic relief and to help Ethan on his dangerous missions. The franchise wouldn’t be quite the same without him, so it’s heartwarming to think that he also benefited from his role as Benji.
Our Take On Simon Pegg’s Revelation
Pegg Should Have A Bright Future
As he states in his interview, Pegg has been sober since 2010, when he was working on Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. This also coincides with the period of his career that saw him appearing in several huge Hollywood productions, including the Star Trek and Star Wars franchises. With his role in the Mission: Impossible franchise coming to an end, it’s unclear what’s next for Pegg. However, fans who have been with him since Spaced and Edgar Wright’s Cornetto trilogy will have high hopes.
Pegg’s uplifting tale of self-improvement is an intriguing peek behind the curtain, since audiences rarely think about what actors might be going through. Hopefully, Pegg has a bright future both personally and professionally. He’s already proven that he’s a great comedic actor and writer, and he is gearing up to make his directorial debut too. With one chapter of his career coming to an end, anything is possible in the next. His presence improved the Mission: Impossible franchise, so it’s good to know that he also experienced a positive impact.
Source: Variety
Mission: Impossible
- Created by
-
Bruce Geller, David Koepp, Steven Zaillian, Robert Towne, Christopher McQuarrie, Tom Cruise
- First Film
-
Mission: Impossible
- Latest Film
-
Mission: Impossible – ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Reckoning
- Upcoming Films
-
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
- First TV Show
-
Mission: Impossible
Summary
The Mission: Impossible franchise is an American action spy series that began with the 1996 film Mission: Impossible and has since become one of the most successful and long-running franchises in Hollywood. The films follow Ethan Hunt, an agent of the Impossible Missions Force (IMF), as he takes on various high-stakes missions around the world, often involving intricate heists, double-crosses, and death-defying stunts. The franchise is renowned for its intense action sequences, particularly those performed by Tom Cruise, who insists on doing many of his own stunts.
