Mission: Impossible 8's Cruise Sendoff Explains Returning Character Mystery

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Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible 8 sendoff could explain why Kittridge returns in the sequels. The Mission: Impossible franchise appears to be nearing its conclusion, at least when it comes to Cruise's involvement as Ethan Hunt. Following the success of recent installments, news that Mission: Impossible 7 & 8 would be made back-to-back pointed to their significance. It remained unclear why the two movies were being positioned this way, but it has since been revealed that Mission: Impossible 8 could see Tom Cruise exit the action franchise.

Before Ethan Hunt's final IMF mission happens, details on Mission: Impossible 7 & 8 have mostly remained under wraps besides its large cast of characters. Franchise stalwarts like Simon Pegg and Rebecca Ferguson are back for the sequels, but Mission: Impossible fans were treated to a big surprise when it was revealed Henry Czerny was returning as Eugene Kittridge. The former IMF director hasn't been part of the franchise since the original 1996 movie. Kittridge's Mission: Impossible 7 return has raised a lot of questions as a result, especially why this was the right time for him to come back.

Related: Why The Mission: Impossible Franchise Cannot Work Without Tom Cruise

The long-awaited reunion between Kittridge and Hunt now makes more sense if Mission: Impossible 7 & 8 are meant to wrap up the IMF spy's story. Writer and director Christopher McQuarrie has made a very conscious effort to link the franchise together since he got involved during Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol. He's helped turn the franchise away from the standalone spy movie nature it started as and instead explore the repercussions of Ethan Hunt's actions. That meant bringing back Michelle Monaghan as Julia