Tom Cruise made headlines again at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, joining writer-director Christopher McQuarrie in a surprise appearance during a masterclass to discuss the future of cinema, streaming’s impact, and Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning.

While fans hoped for a definitive answer on the future of the Mission: Impossible franchise, Cruise remained intentionally vague, emphasizing enjoyment over speculation.

“I’d rather just people see it and enjoy,” Cruise said. “Everything has culminated to this moment.”

Cruise & McQuarrie on the State of Cinema and Streaming

Christopher McQuarrie, the longtime creative force behind the Mission: Impossible series, opened the Cannes masterclass with a candid critique of streaming’s effect on moviegoing.

“Streaming is in danger of driving [theatrical] into extinction,” said McQuarrie. “What makes film special is that hundreds of strangers gather in a room to experience something together.”

Tom Cruise echoed that sentiment, praising the traditional big-screen experience and McQuarrie’s directing style as a “throwback” to golden-age cinema.

“When you’re looking at this film, you’re going to feel how the close-ups are used with the characters,” Cruise said. “It goes back to silent movies.”

‘Never Been Done’ Stunts and the Power of Saying ‘Yes’

The duo also touched on the daring aerial stunts featured in The Final Reckoning, including Cruise’s now-famous zero-G wing-walking sequence.

“Tom said, ‘I want to be zero G in between the wings of the plane,’” McQuarrie shared. “Professionals said, ‘You’re not going to do that.’ And Tom said, ‘Thank you for your time,’ and moved on to someone else.”

Cruise described fear not as a barrier but as a motivating emotion.

“Fear is just an emotion. It doesn’t paralyze me. I don’t mind confronting the unknown. I enjoy it,” he said. “Don’t ask permission. Just do it.”

Is This the End of Mission: Impossible?

Though widely speculated to be the franchise’s final chapter, Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning may not be the last.

Cruise carefully avoided confirming whether this installment marks the end of his iconic role as Ethan Hunt.

“It’s been an amazing time,” he said. “Enjoy this moment.”

Hollywood’s Competitive Trap

The masterclass also veered into a critique of modern Hollywood’s hyper-competitive nature. McQuarrie decried how studios and actors are often pitted against each other.

“Cinema has become about who crushes whom,” he said. “Tom Cruise is competing with no one but himself.”

Cruise added, “Movies aren’t perfect. People aren’t. Life isn’t perfect. But it’s better to go at it.”

Mission: Impossible 8 Cannes Premiere and Release Date

Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning is premiering out of competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, and will be released in theaters worldwide by Paramount Pictures on May 21, 2025.