Mission: Impossible’s Unused De-Aging Flashback Would Have Been Epic but Distracting

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The Mission Impossible Series – Dead Reckoning

Originally, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning was considering the use of de-aged Tom Cruise, but the outcome could have been mixed. De-aging technology has significantly advanced over time. Although some effects, like those seen in Patrick Stewart’s portrayal in X-Men: The Last Stand, haven’t aged well, others, such as Samuel L. Jackson’s de-aged version in Captain Marvel, still look convincing even after several years. However, these de-aging techniques can sometimes be noticeable and jarring, especially when the older actor shares screen time with their younger counterpart. Even if a scene is brilliant, the ‘uncanny valley’ effect may diminish its impact.

Thankfully, the Mission: Impossible series opted against using de-aging technology in its productions, as it was unnecessary. Tom Cruise, at 62 years old, manages to defy aging, and movies can make their actors appear younger through makeup and hairstyling techniques. However, director Christopher McQuarrie disclosed that a de-aged flashback almost made it into the final version of Dead Reckoning. Although his idea sounds appealing, de-aging actors often carries risks, and it’s fortunate that this scene remained unseen.

The Ethan Hunt Flashback Sequence Idea, Explained By Christopher McQuarrie

It Would’ve Been Set In 1989

In the movie, there was a flashback scene linking Ethan to the antagonist Gabriel (Esai Morales), who served The Entity. It turns out that in 1989, Gabriel brutally murdered Ethan’s girlfriend Marie and falsely accused him of the crime. To avoid serving prison time, Ethan joined the IMF – the very organization responsible for defeating Gabriel later in the film, Final Reckoning, delivering a satisfying sense of justice.

During a chat on Josh Horowitz’s “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, I shared an interesting tidbit about my creative process for Mission: Impossible – Fallout. Initially, I had envisioned de-aging Tom Cruise and Esai Morales for certain scenes, and even dreamt of having Julia Roberts portray Marie, also with the de-aging effect applied.

However, after careful consideration with the rest of our team, we discovered that the expense of achieving these de-aged appearances would be on par with the budget required for Final Reckoning’s submarine sequence. Moreover, we felt it might have been a bit too much of a visual distraction, as viewers might find themselves more focused on the de-aging technology rather than the story and performances.

Upon further consideration, it became clear that making Esai, Julia Roberts, and Tom Cruise appear younger on screen would cost nearly as much as building a submarine. With multiple characters in the frame, the technology to achieve convincing de-aging is quite pricey. Once I delved into the technology, I understood that if we were to attempt something like this, it needed to be outstanding…When it’s executed well, all I can think is, ‘Wow, this de-aging looks fantastic.’

Moreover, McQuarrie aimed to pay tribute to the 80s cinematography, reminiscent of the type of movies Cruise would’ve starred in. He stated it would resemble a production that Tony Scott, renowned for directing the original Top Gun, might have created. Given McQuarrie was a producer on Top Gun: Maverick, he has some understanding of attempting to replicate that aesthetic.

I figured out, if we consider Mission Impossible 5 as Ethan’s past, then the movie before that would be the original Mission Impossible. Since we are discussing the timeline, that would place it in 1996, not 1989 as initially thought. This is how we ended up casting Julia Roberts, as she was gaining immense popularity at the time and it was assumed that Tony Scott could have been the director.

McQuarrie Is Right, De-Aged Tom Cruise Would’ve Been Distracting

But A Mash-up Of Mission: Impossible & Top Gun Sounds Amazing

In the hypothetical flashback sequence in Cruise’s movie, it might seem odd if he appeared significantly younger than his actual age, given that digital de-aging effects can be convincing but are often still noticeable. For instance, the depiction of young Harrison Ford in “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” was serviceable, yet one couldn’t help but contemplate the technology behind it while watching. Introducing a well-known star like Roberts into such a scene would only serve to make the de-aging effects more conspicuous and potentially even more distracting for viewers.

McQuarrie’s observation about the sequence resembling a Tony Scott production is quite intriguing. To put it another way, Maverick skillfully recreated the original’s style while introducing something fresh, and imagining how this would unfold in a Mission: Impossible story was captivating. It would have been fascinating to pay tribute to Scott while evoking nostalgia for Top Gun. However, it is understandable that Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning chose not to follow this approach, as the effects might have overshadowed the emotional intensity of this flashback that carries such significance for Ethan.

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2025-05-28 23:39