Tom Cruise's iconic role as Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible franchise was preserved only after a dramatic, face-to-face showdown with a top studio executive, according to his long-time co-star Simon Pegg.
The Confrontation That Changed Everything
Pegg, who plays field agent Benji Dunn in the spy series, disclosed the extraordinary details on the Literally! with Rob Lowe podcast. He claimed that during production of 2011's Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, Paramount Pictures was actively considering positioning actor Jeremy Renner as a potential successor to Cruise.
In response, the 63-year-old Hollywood star took decisive action. Cruise boarded a plane from Vancouver, where he was filming, to Los Angeles with the specific intent of cornering Paramount's then-chairman, Brad Grey, at a party. Pegg recounted that Cruise directly told Grey, "No, that's not happening," effectively shutting down the studio's replacement plans.
Rewriting the Script and Reclaiming Control
Following this confrontation, Cruise brought screenwriter and director Christopher McQuarrie, known as 'McQ', onto the project. McQuarrie undertook significant rewrites of the original script by Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec.
The initial draft had reportedly written Ethan Hunt out of field duty, giving him a career-ending leg injury before transitioning into an administrative role as IMF Secretary. This would have cleared the narrative path for a new agent, likely played by Renner, to lead future films.
McQuarrie's revisions fundamentally altered this trajectory, ensuring Hunt remained an active field agent. Stunt coordinator Gregg Smrz later recalled Cruise's defiant stance on set, quoting the actor as saying, "I ain't going nowhere."
Context and Aftermath of the Power Struggle
The studio's hesitation reportedly stemmed from Cruise's public image at the time, which had been impacted by his infamous 2005 appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show and a contentious interview on the Today show where he criticised psychiatry. Renner, nearly a decade younger and riding high from his Oscar-nominated role in The Hurt Locker, was seen as a viable new lead.
The strategic move by Cruise proved to be a masterstroke. Ghost Protocol became a mega-hit, grossing nearly $700 million worldwide and revitalising the blockbuster franchise. Since then, Cruise has starred in four more instalments, with the series generating over $4 billion globally.
Jeremy Renner did appear in Ghost Protocol and the following film, 2015's Rogue Nation, but later turned down a role in 2018's Fallout that would have killed off his character. He stated at the time, "You're not going to drag me over there and just kill my character."
Reflecting on Cruise's enduring influence, Pegg described him as "almost like a walking studio," noting his unparalleled longevity and business acumen within Hollywood. Podcast host Rob Lowe added an anecdote from a Paramount executive, who revealed the financial pressure Cruise can exert, citing a demand for an extra $30 million during a production where the studio felt it "literally cannot say no."
Pegg also expressed broader concerns about the sustainability of Hollywood's model for big-budget filmmaking, arguing that the industry needs to "get back to making films for a reasonable amount of money." Despite the most recent film being billed as a finale, Pegg hinted that the franchise may continue, stating, "I don't see [Tom] letting that go."
The Daily Mail has approached representatives for Cruise, Renner, and Paramount for comment.
