Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning was largely sold on it being the end of the Mission: Impossible franchise, but I’m convinced that won’t be the case after a recent update. Indications that the eighth film would be Tom Cruise’s last as Ethan Hunt date back several years. The announcement that the seventh and eighth films would film back-to-back raised my eyebrows, as that’s a move typically saved for franchise finales in Hollywood. Then there were reports that Mission: Impossible 8 would be Cruise’s last, and that seemed a lot more likely with The Final Reckoning‘s тιтle reveal.

After all, the movie’s marketing repeatedly used Ethan asking audiences to trust him “one last time,” which further suggested this would be his concluding adventure. I was not entirely convinced that this would be the case, though. The Mission: Impossible movies are mᴀssive for Cruise and Paramount, and there are different reasons why both parties would want more: box office receipts for the studio, and fame and comfort for the star. Once The Final Reckoning‘s ending left the door open for more, I felt that there would be another, and an update on the movie has only emboldened my view.

Christopher McQuarrie Is Already Teasing “Another Movie” For Mission: Impossible

Through A Cut Final Reckoning Scene

To me, one of the most surprising revelations so far about the movie is that The Final Reckoning cut a post-credits scene. Longtime franchise director/writer Christopher McQuarrie confirmed that there was a plan to include a coda at the end of the movie originally. The plan was scrapped by Cruise, who wanted the movie’s ending to remain unchanged. Interestingly, when McQuarrie was asked about what the scene would have included, he said, “I’m not going to say because it could end up in another movie.”

McQuarrie’s phrasing here is notable, especially when considering the context of it being a scrapped post-credits scene. On the surface, saying the idea could be in “another movie” is vague enough that he could mean it will be used in a different film unrelated to Mission: Impossible. That’s not what it sounds like when you think about how this would have been a scene at the very end of The Final Reckoning. It is difficult to imagine how a credits scene to this story would work with a completely separate universe or characters.

As a result, it becomes clear that McQuarrie is referring to another movie in the Mission: Impossible franchise. The Final Reckoning‘s credits scene surely would have set up the next chapter in Ethan Hunt’s story. Mission: Impossible 9 must be the other movie that McQuarrie is teasing that could still utilize the idea for the scrapped tag scene.

The Final Reckoning’s Cut Post-Credits Scene Indicates McQuarrie Has Ideas For Mission: Impossible 9’s Story

Ethan Can Return Again

The fact that McQuarrie is choosing to keep The Final Reckoning‘s cut post-credits scene contents a secret is notable too. This heavily implies that he knows exactly what Mission: Impossible 9‘s story will be. It also suggests the next Mission: Impossible movie is already in a strong position and possibly even in early development. If McQuarrie truly thought that The Final Reckoning was the end for Mission: Impossible and another movie wouldn’t happen, there would be no reason to keep the scrapped credits scene a secret.

His comments give me the belief that he already has a general idea for Mission: Impossible 9. That makes sense based on previous comments he’s made, too. Ahead of Mission: Impossible – ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Reckoning‘s release in 2023, McQuarrie teased that Mission: Impossible 8 wouldn’t be the end, even if that was the plan at one point. He said, “There’s always a plan, the plan always changes.” This immediately gave me some optimism that Mission: Impossible 9 would happen, but that was before The Final Reckoning‘s marketing really sold this film as the end.

It seems that the plans for the franchise changed as The Final Reckoning unfolded, paving the way for an idea for Mission: Impossible 9 that has excited the director and star. Perhaps that is why there were those reports that Cruise was hesitant to market The Final Reckoning as the last Mission: Impossible movie. He and McQuarrie seemingly know what they want to do next with this world and could have set it up in a post-credits scene if they wanted.

I Won’t Be Surprised If Mission: Impossible 9 Is Confirmed Sooner Than Expected

Especially After Its Box Office

Now knowing that there was a planned post-credits scene for The Final Reckoning, I have no doubt in my mind that McQuarrie and Cruise are talking about making another Mission: Impossible movie. The director has been planting seeds about this for two years. While there may have been a belief that it was all a smokescreen to distract audiences from the impending finality of The Final Reckoning, I’m now convinced that he was telling the truth.

With The Final Reckoning‘s box office performing at franchise-best levels, it may only be a matter of time before Mission: Impossible 9 is confirmed. Cruise is working on several other projects that should come first, including Top Gun 3, but official reports can come confirming that another Mission: Impossible movie is happening. Audiences have been very receptive to Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, so announcing the franchise’s continuation would be smart. Doing so within the next year would align with the development timeline for these last two films too, and help Mission: Impossible 9 come sooner than later.