Could Mission:Impossible be another James Bond?

[bigred760]

Look at the similarities between the two and tell me that Tom Cruise has a potential neverending series on his hands. Even if he wanted to give up the role of Ethan Hunt; somebody else could take his place, either as Hunt or another secret agent. It's something to think about.

[Ted Pikul]

I don't think so.

For starters where are they going to find an actor as small as Tiny Tom?

[bob]

The James Bond films are carried by the character James Bond, whilst the Mission: Impossible films are carried by the actor Tom Cruise.

I think the series probably dies when Tom quits.

[Ted Pikul]

After MI:2 you could argue that the series died whilst Tom Cruise was still in it.;)

[free]

They both mirror each othe rin many regards, so I don't see why not, but like someone said, Tom Cruise really is Ethan Hunt, so it would be hard to replace him.

[bigred760]

Originally posted by free
They both mirror each othe rin many regards, so I don't see why not, but like someone said, Tom Cruise really is Ethan Hunt, so it would be hard to replace him.


Why does it have to be "Ethan Hunt." Get another actor to play another spy character in the series.

[Ted Pikul]

The original Mission : Impossible was all about team work so hopefully after the ego driven excesses of MI 2 this element will be re-instated for Part 3.

[wheresdonnie?]

I don't think so. Mission Impossible doesn't really have the same ability to spawn limitless sequels that Bond does. Admittedly 3 or 4 could be expected, but not 20

[James Logan]

Originally posted by bob
The James Bond films are carried by the character James Bond, whilst the Mission: Impossible films are carried by the actor Tom Cruise.

I think the series probably dies when Tom quits.

What the man said.

I mean, they could try to keep it going, but I hardly see how it could work. Maybe do a XXX kind of thing, replacing Vin Diesel with Ice Cube while keeping some of the supporting cast and spirit the same, but I don't see how it could work. Cruise has been carrying the series since the start, it's his show. Maybe they'll keep making movies with the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE name on them once he's gone, but they'll be very different movies -- maybe the teamwork aspect will be back again.

[bigred760]

I'm just wondering if people were saying the same thing about Sean Connery. Would the series survive without him? As we have seen, it has. (Although George Lazenby wouldn't have been my first or second choice to replace him.)

All they would need is a pretty big star to fill his shoes.

But I don't see why they couldn't go with the team aspect for a few movies. See who out of the "team" becomes a superstar, then base the movies around him/her for a while.

[HM Murdock]

Mission Impossible is no way as near as strong as the Bond movies. The first was ok but the sequel was pushing things and could go either way. When Dr. No came out there was huge hype and strong follow ups made the franchise. Besides no one can top the action and women driven character of Bond.

[James Logan]

Originally posted by bigred760
I'm just wondering if people were saying the same thing about Sean Connery. Would the series survive without him?

The difference being -- the James Bond movies were not created by Sean Connery for Sean Connery. They were created, and Sean Connery was cast.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE however, despite being based on the TV show, is a Tom Cruise show. Produced by Tom Cruise, ran by Tom Cruise, starring Tom Cruise, for the fun of Tom Cruise. (I love both movies, by the way). That becomes evident in the beginning of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE when...

***SPOILER FOR MISSION IMPOSSIBLE***
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...the whole team, Cruise excepted, gets killed. The message is clear: this is not a team effort, it's a Cruise effort.
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***END SPOILERS***

And sure, they probably could continue the franchise by going with someone else. But I don't think it'll hold. Or they could keep it going by going back to the team aspect, but that, to me, wouldn't really be the same franchise in the same sense as the Bond franchise has been (one character, one same concept, twenty plus movies).