Mission: Impossible 8 Director Reveals Why Major Character Didn’t Return Despite Fan Backlash

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning sees several familiar faces in the beloved action film series return for what could potentially be the finale of the Tom Cruise-led setpiece. However, one character killed off in the previous sequel wasn’t revived for the latest installment, and director Christopher McQuarrie has a reasonable explanation why.

Speaking with John Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, McQuarrie addressed the death of Rebecca Ferguson’s character, Ilsa Faust, in Dead Reckoning and why she wasn’t brought back in The Final Reckoning amid fan calls for her to return. Despite the backlash regarding Ilsa’s death, McQuarrie claimed the best choice was not to revive her as her demise was meant to mirror realism and finality within the film series, creating more emotional resonance and credibility.

“It’s the cost versus benefit. The death of essential characters has followed Ethan throughout every one of these movies. I don’t think up until that point a character that resonated so deeply with the audience had died, and I know there were people who were dissatisfied with the way it happened, which is where I thought that wouldn’t motivate me to undo the one thing that gives Mission: Impossible teeth, which is death is permanent,” McQuarrie said.

ere’s everything we know about the future of Mission: Impossible.

Ilsa Faust Became a Beloved Mission: Impossible Staple

Ilsa, a disavowed MI6 Agent who aligned with Cruise’s Ethan Hunt, was first introduced in Rogue Nation and featured in the next two sequels, becoming a fan favorite for her unpredictability and wit. However, in Dead Reckoning, Ilsa was stabbed to death by the Entity’s liaison, Gabriel (Esai Morales), while fighting on a bridge in Venice, a creative move that stunned many.

The real-life reason for Ilsa’s storyline death was that Ferguson decided to leave the Mission: Impossible franchise after finishing her three-film deal with the series. Ferguson also wasn’t happy with her character’s direction, stating that she became too much of a “team player,” wanting to keep her rogue and maintain the naughtier aspects of Ilsa that made her beloved. Furthermore, she wanted Ilsa to get more screen time in the franchise, though she enjoyed working with Cruise, McQuarrie and co.

Though Ferguson was done with Mission: Impossible ​​​​​​after Dead Reckoning, she has since returned to the Dune franchise for the critically acclaimed Part Two and will appear in Netflix’s upcoming Peaky Blinders film, The Immortal Man. She also featured in Season 2 of Apple TV’s sci-fi dystopian drama series, Silo, which earned rave reviews.

Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning brings Tom Cruise’s spy thriller franchise to an end, but it could find a future by looking to the past.

The Final Reckoning, the potential curtain-closer for the Mission: Impossible series, sees Hunt and his IMF operatives continue their battle against the Entity and Gabriel. Since its May 23 premiere, the film has earned $204.5 million worldwide and boasts an 80% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes. Cruise stars alongside franchise mainstays Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg and Henry Czerny, plus appearances by Angela Bassett, Pom Klementieff, Shea Whigham, Greg Tarzan Davis, Nick Offerman and Hannah Waddingham.

The Final Reckoning is now showing in theaters across North America.