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  • ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ Interview: Rolf Saxon

    Rolf Saxon plays William Donloe in 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    Rolf Saxon plays William Donloe in ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    Spoiler Alert:  This article contains some spoilers for ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’

    Opening in theaters on May 23rd is the final ‘Mission: Impossible’ film entitled ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning‘, which is once again directed by Christopher McQuarrie (‘Jack Reacher’) and stars Tom Cruise (‘Top Gun’).

    In addition to Cruise, the movie features returning franchise actors Hayley Atwell (‘Captain America: The First Avenger’), Ving Rhames (‘Pulp Fiction’), Simon Pegg (‘Star Trek’), Pom Klementieff (‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’), Angela Bassett (‘Black Panther’), Shea Whigham (‘Joker’), Greg Tarzan Davis (‘Top Gun: Maverick’), Henry Czerny (‘Scream VI’), and Esai Morales (‘La Bamba’).

    Also returning to the franchise is actor Rolf Saxon (‘Saving Private Ryan’), who played William Donloe in 1996’s ‘Mission: Impossible’. He was the CIA analyst that Ethan Hunt (Cruise) stole the NOC list from in that famous scene from the first movie.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Rolf Saxon about his work on ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’. The actor discussed returning to the franchise, his character’s pivotal role in the story, how the script changed on set, creating his backstory, reuniting with Tom Cruise, how he was cast in the original, what it was like appearing in that film’s iconic scene, his admiration for the legacy of the franchise and Cruise’s stunt work, and what it means to him to be part of one of the most popular franchises in cinematic history.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’

    Rolf Saxon plays William Donloe in 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance. Photo: Russell Baer.
    Rolf Saxon plays William Donloe in ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance. Photo: Russell Baer.

    Moviefone: To begin with, how did you find out that you would be returning for ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ and were you surprised to get a call 30 years after filming the first movie?

    Rolf Saxon: Honestly, I thought it was a joke. I thought a friend of mine in Scotland was winding me up. Suddenly, I get an email to meet Christopher McQuarrie, and I see the address and I think, “Oh, that’s good, man. I’m going to owe you big time on this one, dude.” So, I’m in a t-shirt with a glass of wine and McQuarrie comes up and it’s like, “What? Wait, what?” I’ve got goosebumps just thinking about it. It was insane. He offered me the job within about three minutes, and he spent the next hour telling me what he thought. I couldn’t even joke about, “Oh, let me think about it, Chris. I might do this. I might not.” I just went for it. I thought it was a joke, and it wasn’t. So, I’m still having difficulty with this. No kidding. I had two lines, maybe three minutes on screen in the first movie and suddenly I’m doing this. Unbelievable.

    MF: When it was announced that you would be returning, many thought it would be just a cameo, but your character plays a pivotal role in the story of the film. Was it always designed to be like that or did your part grow through production?

    RS: Two things. One, Chris works in a very improvisational way. When I first came on board, it was a very different concept. Not hugely, I mean, it was still the same thing, but the way I was introduced was one way when we started filming, and then they decided to change an integral part of the story structure. So, that had to be readjusted. With that came a further readjustment. I was put in act three of the film. Again, this job has been like that for me. It’s like, “Wait, what? Seriously are you winding me up now? Is this a joke?” With Chris, I realized very soon, he doesn’t joke about stuff like that ever. Never. So, when he says something like that, it’s like, “This is wonderful.” I mean, I don’t know what his original concept of it was, to be honest with you. There was no script that I could read. It was just what he was telling me. That’s what I was going on. Then, as I said, we started filming it, and then we changed it. He then said, “We’re going to do something here and there, and we’re going to do this now.”

    (L to R) Greg Tarzan Davis, Christopher McQuarrie, Lucy Tulugarjuk, Simon Pegg, Rolf Saxon, Pom Klementieff and Hayley Atwell on the set of 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    (L to R) Greg Tarzan Davis, Christopher McQuarrie, Lucy Tulugarjuk, Simon Pegg, Rolf Saxon, Pom Klementieff and Hayley Atwell on the set of ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    MF: A lot of time has passed since the last time we saw your character, and some of that is explained in the movie but did you create a backstory for yourself so you would understand how he got to this point in his life?

    RS: Christopher was clear on what he wanted. As an actor, when one gets that kind of direction, it’s up to us to sort through that. Because of this, the energy and the positivity that’s around that just permeated that set. When someone said something like that, instead of like, “How am I going to do this?” It’s like, “Okay, this is cool. This is great.” It’s much more proactive. You’re not on the back foot so much, you’re on the front foot. I love that and that wasn’t a fluke that from day one to the last day for me was like that. So yeah, we worked, Chris and I talked a lot about what it was going to be, and then Lucy (Tulugarjuk) came on board. When she came on board, we did some more chatting about it. Then it was just a matter of making it work with what he was presenting us.

    MF: You had only one scene with both Henry Czerny and Tom Cruise in the first movie, but you didn’t have any speaking lines in those scenes. What was it like to reunite with both of those actors on this movie and get to act opposite them this time around?

    RS: Yeah, it was great. I mean, to get to act with Tom Cruise, again, it sounds a little bit fan-like, but it was brilliant, man. I mean, it was great. He brings, again, an energy and a positive focus that, there’s only one Tom Cruise. That’s it. There’s a reason for that. I got to experience it, which was wonderful. Henry, I met on set, but before we started working together, and it’s the first time I’d seen him in 30 years, I walked up to him and I said, “Hey, listen, I just want to say, no hard feelings.” He looked at me, and then he just started laughing. He’s got a great sense of humor. We’ve been tight since then. I mean, we get on very well. He’s a lot of fun.

    (L to R) Hayley Atwell plays Grace, Simon Pegg plays Benji Dunn, Tom Cruise plays Ethan Hunt, Rolf Saxon plays William Donloe, Lucy Tulugarjuk plays Tapeesa, Greg Tarzan Davis plays Degas and Pom Klementieff plays Paris in 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    (L to R) Hayley Atwell plays Grace, Simon Pegg plays Benji Dunn, Tom Cruise plays Ethan Hunt, Rolf Saxon plays William Donloe, Lucy Tulugarjuk plays Tapeesa, Greg Tarzan Davis plays Degas and Pom Klementieff plays Paris in ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    MF: Can you talk about the first time you saw Tom Cruise again after all these years? Did he thank you for returning to the franchise?

    RS: The first day I was brought on set just outside of London, to the studio. I was brought on just to see the set because there were two sound stages they were using. One of them was for a tunnel sequence that they had rebuilt where Luther (Ving Rhames) was working in that room. I was brought on to see it, meet a couple of heads of department and stuff. I came in around this corner and through this room, and there was Tom, the heads of department, and Christopher McQuarrie. I got this big round of applause, and Tom came up and hugged me. Simon Pegg was also there, who I’ve known for many years ago. I was made to feel so welcome immediately on the set. Tom just said, “Anything you need, let me know.” He’s not a warm and fuzzy kind of guy. He’s not that kind of Californian thing, but boy, he’s a hundred percent there.

    MF: Can you talk about how you were cast in the first ‘Mission: Impossible’? Did you audition for director Brian De Palma?

    RS: I was doing a David Mamet play, a tour. We’d done a theater, and it was very successful. So, we went on tour with it. I got a phone call from my agent saying they want to set up an audition for this movie. Tom Cruise is going to do ‘Mission: Impossible’. I said, “Like the TV series? This is going to be interesting.” So, I took a three-hour train ride and met them at Pinewood Studios. Brian (De Palma) was working at the time, so there was a little bit of a delay, and I had to be back for the curtain that night. So, I went in, I was there with him for about three minutes, and that was it. As I walked out, I turned to the casting director, and I said, “Well, that was a waste of time.” She said, “No, you were in there longer than anybody else. I think he really liked you.” I thought, “Yeah, right. Thanks. Appreciate it.” So, I got on the train back three hours just in time for the half hour call, and I got a message saying, “Phone your agent.” And I thought, “Oh, that’s cool. Okay.” So, I did the show. The next morning, I called my agent and he said, “Yeah, they’ve offered you the job. They want you to do it.” I said, “You’re kidding.” I was doing another film, a much better part, but they said they were going to work around it. So, I thought, “Okay, cool.” Of course, that film has completely disappeared. It’s funny how things work. That’s how I got that one. Again, this job has been like that from the get-go. A constant series of surprises, and very pleasant ones.

    (L to R) Tom Cruise and Rolf Saxon in 'Mission: Impossible'. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    (L to R) Tom Cruise and Rolf Saxon in ‘Mission: Impossible’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    MF: The scene from the first film where Ethan Hunt is stealing the NOC list and Tom Cruise is hanging from the ceiling above you has become one of the most popular scenes in cinematic history. How has it felt over the years to know you were part of such an iconic movie moment?

    RS: Well, I’ll be honest with you, Jami. I had no idea of this. I mean, I saw myself in the movie, I’m critical of things I do. So, some of it I like, some of it I didn’t like. I’ve seen it, and all my friends and family say, “Oh, you’re brilliant.” They’re your friends and your family, what are they going to say, you stink? No. So, McQuarrie said what you’re saying, and I thought he was blowing smoke. When I came to London, I was in a hotel. I met a guy, I didn’t know him, but I could tell he was American. So, I said, “Hey, how are you doing?” We chatted for 30 seconds on an elevator ride, and then I didn’t see him again for a couple of days. The next time I saw him was on the set for ‘Mission: Impossible’. It was Greg Tarzan Davis. He looked at me and pointed and said, “Oh, my gosh, you are William Donloe.” Christopher was standing behind him. I thought, again, between the two of them, they’d worked this out. Tarzan said, “No, man. I suddenly realized you’re the guy.” He said, “You looked a little familiar. But I thought, it was just me.” He said, “That is a great scene. Everybody knows it.” To be honest with you, I still find that difficult to believe, the fact that I’m in it. It’s more to do with what Tom’s doing and the film, I’m in the background of it. So, while I am part of it, it’s a tiny little part. I’m ecstatic about it. Don’t get me wrong. I love being a part of it. It brought me back. So yeah, I’m very happy.

    MF: What is your opinion of the direction the series has gone in since the first film, and Tom Cruise’s incredible dedication to the stunt work?

    RS: I’ll be honest, this is not my genre of film. I’ve watched every single one of them. I watched the second one because I was in the first one. But it became very much, “I love these.” I love these films. They’re great fun. This is not my normal genre, what I normally watch. So, that says for me how good they are. I’m not someone who gravitates to this kind of thing, and I love them. I watch them as soon as they come out. What I think of the franchise, it’s grown and grown. I mean, when we did the first one, it was a gamble. Tom was taking a big chance, and it paid off. That’s before he was the Tom Cruise he is now. That could have failed. So, because of him and his guiding, and especially when Chris came on, I think the last four films, they’ve got a working relationship that just gets bigger and bigger. Technology has improved. They do amazing things with technology, except the stunts. There’s no technology there. There’s none. That’s all him. That, I think, is one of the major selling points of the film. You’re seeing a human being doing everything that he does. I mean, I wouldn’t train to do those stunts. No way. I have friends who are stunt performers, and one of them who is American guy, he’s been doing it for a long time, and he said he’s never met any stunt person who has a sense of physical space the way Tom Cruise does. He doesn’t get excited, or nervous. He gets problem-solving. He said, “I’ve never seen anybody do anything the way he’s doing this.” I thought, “Well, it makes perfect sense.” But stunts can go wrong, and stunts have gone wrong with him. He’s broken bones. He’s injured himself, but he’s never come close to dying. That is a mark of, I think, how good he is at this and his team around him. He gets the best in the world. He can do that, and it works.

    Tom Cruise plays Ethan Hunt in 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    Tom Cruise plays Ethan Hunt in ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    MF: Finally, you were in the first ‘Mission: Impossible’ and now you’re in the last. What does it mean to you personally to have been a part of one the most popular film franchises of all time?

    RS: Again, it’s a gift. This from the outset has been a gift, an unknown gift in the beginning. I mean, this kind of thing, I suppose someone like Tom can do this kind of thing as an actor. He can say, “This is what I want to do,” but to be able to do that is a whole other thing. This was presented to me on a platter. I am fortunate that I’m the one it was presented to. Do you know what I mean? I spend a long-time perfecting what I do as best I can. So, when something like this comes up, hopefully I can do it. But the right place, the right time kind of thing comes to mind. I’ve had a lucky career. I’ve been very lucky. I’ve done many things that I’ve been gifted for. But this has got to be at the top. This is great.

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    What is the plot of ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’?

    Following the events of ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning,’ Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his IMF team must stop the villainous Gabriel (Esai Morales) from gaining control of the powerful sentient AI known as the Entity, which has plans of its own for the world.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’?

    • Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt
    • Hayley Atwell as Grace
    • Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell
    • Simon Pegg as Benji Dunn
    • Henry Czerny as Eugene Kittridge
    • Angela Bassett as President Erika Sloane
    • Esai Morales as Gabriel
    • Pom Klementieff as Paris
    • Holt McCallany as Serling
    • Janet McTeer as Walters
    • Nick Offerman as General Sydney
    • Hannah Waddingham as Admiral Neely
    • Shea Whigham as Jasper Briggs
    • Greg Tarzan Davis as Degas
    • Tramell Tillman as Captain Bledsoe
    Rolf Saxon plays William Donloe in 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    Rolf Saxon plays William Donloe in ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    List of Movies and TV Shows in the ‘Mission: Impossible’ Franchise:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy ‘Mission: Impossible’ Movies on Amazon

     

  • ‘The Killer’s Game’ Interview: Dave Bautista and Sofia Boutella

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    Opening in theaters on September 13th is the new action-comedy ‘The Killer’s Game’, which was directed by J.J. Perry (‘Day Shift’).

    The film stars Dave Bautista (‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’), Sofia Boutella (‘Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver’), Terry Crews (‘Deadpool 2’), Pom Klementieff (‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’), Scott Adkins (‘John Wick: Chapter 4’), and Oscar-winner Sir Ben Kinsley (‘Ghadhi’ and ‘Iron Man 3’).

    Related Article: Dave Bautista, Chloe Coleman and More Talk ‘My Spy The Eternal City’

    (L to R) Dave Bautista and Sofia Boutella star in 'The Killer's Game'.
    (L to R) Dave Bautista and Sofia Boutella star in ‘The Killer’s Game’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of sitting down in-person with Dave Bautista and Sofia Boutella to talk about their work on ‘The Killer’s Game’, their first reaction to the screenplay, their characters, the action, the romance, and working with Sir Ben Kingsley.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Bautista, Boutella and director J.J. Perry.

    Dave Bautista in 'The Killer's Game'. Photo: Lionsgate.
    Dave Bautista in ‘The Killer’s Game’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Dave, what was your first reaction to reading the screenplay and having the opportunity to play a character that’s different than anything we’ve seen you play before.

    Dave Bautista: The first reaction would’ve been years and years ago, and I loved it right off the bat because I thought it was like a rom com disguised as an action film. At that time, I really didn’t want to do action films. I just wanted to pursue interesting action roles, and this would’ve been something new for me. So, I was really excited about it. I thought it was fun. It’s something I’ve been really searching for. A couple years ago, I made a conscious decision to stop, not to stop, but to really limit my supporting roles because I felt like if I keep accepting supporting roles, I’m not going to get leading roles. So, I had to really start searching and holding out for leading roles. This is kind of that first leading man, almost cliche leading man, where I just kick ass and I get the girl. So, it was like, “Hey, it’s a new venture for me.” I was nervous about it. I was self-conscious about it. I’m still nervous about it, and I hope people receive it. But I had so much fun doing it, and I’m very proud of it. It was a great learning experience and hopefully the first of many.

    MF: Sofia, can you talk about your approach to playing Maize and how your dancing background prepared you to play this character?

    Sofia Boutella: First, I always say that my dancing background helps me with anything I do in my life and even in things that aren’t physical because of how I think about projects and the physicality, just the discipline of what I must execute, period. But I was really attracted to working with David, and to be in an action film where I don’t do any action and just fall in love on screen. I’ve never played a character that is that soft and that just has romance in her life. I haven’t got a chance to explore that. So, I’m happy that I got a chance to do that and dance again, which I was terrified about because I haven’t done it in a long time.

    (L to R) Dave Bautista and Sofia Boutella in 'The Killer's Game'. Photo: Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Dave Bautista and Sofia Boutella in ‘The Killer’s Game’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    MF: Sofia, can you talk about the relationship between Joe and Maize and what was it like playing those romantic scenes on screen with Dave?

    SB: I loved it. I just loved how much of an introvert he was and how much Maize wants to get it out of him. I think she sees through the facade, and she finds that tenderness very appealing because he’s just so imposing and he’s just so tough and big, but then she sees the softness inside of him. So, this was fun for me and to play also just such a giddy character. When you get to the place where he’s breaking her heart. You don’t expect him to do that, and she knows that he’s not capable of that. So, it’s all very confusing. But all of that was very fun.

    MF: Dave, can you talk about shooting the action sequences and what it was like working with director J.J. Perry, who is a former stunt coordinator himself?

    DB: It was great, and I say that because we were so limited on time shooting this film. Because J.J. understands action so well, it just made it easy for me. Also, we didn’t have the luxury of going in and rehearsing action sequences for weeks like I did on Bond (‘Spectre’). I rehearsed and rehearsed and rehearsed and over rehearsed. With this, a lot of times it was coming to set, and because J.J. is so experienced in this, he knows exactly what he needs. So, we just need these few beats, and we need these few beats, and then we need these few beats. So, it’s stuff that I could learn just very fast, right there on the day. Which it just wouldn’t have worked if we had some money, less experience, it just wouldn’t have worked because we had 42 days to shoot this whole film and a lot of stuff. A lot of times we had two units running at once because he knew exactly what he needed, and he’s so prepared. He just made it very easy. I mean, it just wouldn’t have worked without J.J.

    Sir Ben Kingsley in 'The Killer's Game'. Photo: Lionsgate.
    Sir Ben Kingsley in ‘The Killer’s Game’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    MF: Dave, what is it like having Sir Ben Kingsley as a scene partner?

    DB: It was nerve-racking, man. It was intimidating as you’d imagine, for me, especially because I’ve got such a chip on my shoulder to prove myself as an actor. I want to feel like I deserve to be there, sharing scenes with Sir Ben. It’s very validating for me. But at the same time, the energy was very different when Sir Ben was on set. That’s the thing. It’s just such a respect factor. The energy doesn’t change because he is intentionally trying to be intimidating or he’s high maintenance. It’s just the respect factor and they love him and respect him so much. So, everybody just wants to cater to him, and it always comes from a good place. But he’s just such a sweet, loving human being, which makes it even more like you just want to give him all that respect.

    MF: Finally, Sofia, what was your experience like working with Sir Ben Kingsley?

    SB: Everybody was nervous the day he came on set. Everybody was like, “He’s here. Remember, call him sir.” No, it was an honor, really. When you see the body of work that he has and how talented he is, and the charisma that comes with his presence is monumental. But he was also very sweet, very kind, and chill. But he is Sir Ben Kingsley.

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    What is the plot of ‘The Killer’s Game’?

    A veteran assassin (Dave Bautista) fends off a hit he placed on himself after learning the terminal medical diagnosis he received was incorrect.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Killer’s Game’?

    • Dave Bautista as Joe Flood
    • Sofia Boutella as Maize
    • Terry Crews as Lovedahl
    • Scott Adkins as Angus Mackenzie
    • Marko Zaror as Botas
    • Pom Klementieff as Marianna
    • Ben Kingsley as Zvi
    Dave Bautista in 'The Killer's Game'. Photo: Lionsgate.
    Dave Bautista in ‘The Killer’s Game’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    Other Dave Bautista Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘The Killer’s Game’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Dave Bautista Movies On Amazon

  • ‘The Killer’s Game’ Exclusive Photo

    Sofia Boutella in an exclusive photo from 'The Killer's Game'. Photo: Lionsgate.
    Sofia Boutella in an exclusive photo from ‘The Killer’s Game’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    Preview:

    • Take an exclusive first look at Sofia Boutella in ‘The Killer’s Game’.
    • She stars alongside Dave Bautista in the action comedy thriller.
    • J.J. Perry directed the movie.

    If you were wondering when you might get an exclusive look at the new action comedy thriller starring Dave Bautista and Sofia Boutella, your wait is over.

    Moviefone is excited to debut a new image from the film, featuring Boutella as Maize, a key character in the story (see above).

    With a cast brimming with action icons and character favorites, it promises plenty of crazy set-pieces and entertaining performances as it answers the question “what would happen if a hitman learned they’re dying and put a hit out on themselves. But… Oops! Turns out the diagnosis is wrong, but now they still have to deal with everyone trying to kill them.”

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    What’s the story of ‘The Killer’s Game’?

    Dave Bautista in 'The Killer's Game'. Photo: Lionsgate.
    Dave Bautista in ‘The Killer’s Game’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    The new action comedy kicks off when top hitman Joe Flood (Bautista) is diagnosed with a terminal illness, and he decides to take matters into his own hands –– by taking a hit out on himself.

    But when he both learns he was misdiagnosed and the very hitmen he hired also target his ex–girlfriend (Boutella), he must fend off an army of assassin colleagues and win back the love of his life before it’s too late.

    Related Article: Dave Bautista, Chloe Coleman and More Talk ‘My Spy The Eternal City’

    Who worked on ‘The Killer’s Game’?

    Pom Klementieff in 'The Killer's Game'. Photo: Lionsgate.
    Pom Klementieff in ‘The Killer’s Game’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    The new movie has been in development for a long time. But it has finally found like thanks to Lionsgate, which acquired the script in 2023 and hired ‘Day Shift’ director J.J. Perry to oversee it.

    Adapted from the novel by Jay Bonansinga, the script has seen work from James Coyne, Simon Kinberg and Rand Ravich.

    The cast for the movie also includes Pom Klementieff (which marks a reunion for Bautista with one of his ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ co-stars), Scott Adkins. Marko Zaror, Daniel Bernhardt, Ben Kingsley and Terry Crews.

    Dave Bautista talks ‘The Killer’s Game’ and his co-star

    (L to R) Dave Bautista and Sofia Boutella in 'The Killer's Game'. Photo: Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Dave Bautista and Sofia Boutella in ‘The Killer’s Game’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    Bautista was recently asked about the choice of Boutella as Maize by The Hollywood Reporter.

    This is what he had to say:

    “They brought forth other actresses, and I just kept turning them down, saying, ‘No, I just can’t wrap my head around anybody else other than Sofia,’ ”So then I said, ‘Let’s not look for another actress. Let’s just try to move schedules around so we can make Sofia work.’ It took a lot of doing from producers and agents and managers, and Sofia being willing to fly back and forth from Budapest to London while she was on two projects.”

    When will ‘The Killer’s Game’ be in theaters?

    You’ll be able to catch all the action when ‘The Killer’s Game’ arrives in theaters on Friday, September 13th.

    Dave Bautista in 'The Killer's Game'. Photo: Lionsgate.
    Dave Bautista in ‘The Killer’s Game’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    Other Dave Bautista Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘The Killer’s Game’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Dave Bautista Movies On Amazon

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  • Where To Watch ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’

    Tom Cruise in 'Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    Tom Cruise in ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    Ethan Hunt and his IMF team are back for another dangerous mission – to track down and prevent a new weapon known as “The Entity” from destroying humanity if it were to fall into the wrong hands. While hunting down the new weapon, Ethan’s dark past catches up with him and threatens the lives of those close to him.

    This is the seventh installment in the ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise, with the first film premiering in 1996. With each ‘Mission: Impossible’ film, stunts are wilder, and the missions more precarious. Tom Cruise continues to elevate each movie by performing the incredible stunts himself, from executing the Halo jump in ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ in 2018, to the deathy-defying motorcycle jump off the cliff in the latest film – a scene that render the audience speechless.

    As a part of an extremely successful franchise, ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ was a highly anticipated film, garnering a 96% scores from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and 94% score from the audience.

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    The official synopsis for ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ is below:

    “In Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his IMF team embark on their most dangerous mission yet: To track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity before it falls into the wrong hands. With control of the future and the fate of the world at stake, and dark forces from Ethan’s past closing in, a deadly race around the globe begins. Confronted by a mysterious, all-powerful enemy, Ethan is forced to consider that nothing can matter more than his mission — not even the lives of those he cares about most.”

    Who Is In The Cast of ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’?

    Hayley Atwell and Esai Morales in 'Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    (L to R) Hayley Atwell and Esai Morales in ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    ‘Mission: Impossible -Dead Reckoning’ is directed by Christopher McQuarrie.

    Related Article: Hayley Atwell Talks ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’

    Box Office For ‘Dead Reckoning’

    Tom Cruise in 'Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    Tom Cruise in ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    It’s clear that ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ was a must-watch for fans of the franchise. Having played Ethan Hunt for 25 years, audience can always expect Tom Cruise to deliver – from acting to action. The film has a production cost of $300 million, due to its large cast and extravagant stunt sequences. Despite the anticipation, the film opened to $54.6 million domestically, which falls short of its predecessors. 2018’s ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ opened to $61.2 million domistically and has grossed $220.1million, and 2015’s ‘Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation’ opened to $55.5 million.

    Box office powerhouse films ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ may have affected the box office earning for ‘Dead Reckoning Part One’ as both films were released on July 21, 2023, setting the “Barbieheimer” trend amongst moviegoers as they plan a double feature.

    When Will ‘Mission – Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One’ Come To Streaming?

    Tom Cruise plays Ethan Hunt in 'Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning - Part One' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    Tom Cruise plays Ethan Hunt in ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning – Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    The spy thriller premiered in Rome on June 19, 2023, and was released in theaters domestically on July 12, 2023. It was released in formats such as Dolby Cinema, IMAX, ScreenX, and 4DX. The film is still playing in theaters, and due to its extraordinary stunt sequences, best experienced on the big screen.

    Buy Tickets: ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ Movie Showtimes

    ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning’ has a total runtime of 2 hour and 43 minutes.

    Watch the official trailers for ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ below:

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    The movie is released by Paramount Pictures, which means it’s likely to end up on its streaming service Paramount+ when it is ready to go to streaming. For VOD release, no date has confirmed though pre-order is available for platforms such as Prime Video, Google Play, Apple TV, YouTube, and Vudu.

    Where to Watch: ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ Online

    Buy ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ On Amazon

    Buy ‘Mission: Impossible’ Movies On Amazon

    Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames and Rebecca Ferguson in 'Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning - Part One' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    (L to R) Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames and Rebecca Ferguson in ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning – Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One:’

    To watch our exclusive interviews with director Christopher McQuarrie and the cast of ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning – Part One, please click on the video player below.

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  • ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ – Christopher McQuarrie

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    Opening in theaters on July 12th is the latest installment of the ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise entitled ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,’ which was co-written and directed by Academy Award-winner Christopher McQuarrie (‘The Usual Suspects,’ ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’).

    What is the plot of ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’?

    In ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,’ Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his IMF team embark on their most dangerous mission yet: To track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity before it falls into the wrong hands. With control of the future and the fate of the world at stake, and dark forces from Ethan’s past closing in, a deadly race around the globe begins. Confronted by a mysterious, all-powerful enemy, Ethan is forced to consider that nothing can matter more than his mission – not even the lives of those he cares about most.

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    Who is in the cast of ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’?

    ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ stars Tom Cruise (‘Top Gun‘) as Ethan Hunt, Hayley Atwell (‘Captain America: The First Avenger‘) as Grace, Esai Morales (‘Master Gardener‘) as Gabriel, Ving Rhames (‘Pulp Fiction‘) as Luther Stickell, Simon Pegg (‘Hot Fuzz‘) as Benji Dunn, Rebecca Ferguson (‘Dune‘) as Ilsa Faust, Vanessa Kirby (‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw‘) as Alanna Mitsopolis, Pom Klementieff (‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3’) as Paris, Henry Czerny (‘Scream VI‘) as Eugene Kittridge, Shea Whigham (‘Joker‘) as Jasper Briggs, and Greg Tarzan Davis (‘Top Gun: Maverick‘) as Degas.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with writer and director Christopher McQuarrie about his work on ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,’ keeping the franchise fresh, creating the incredible stunts with Tom Cruise, practical effects vs. CGI, the most difficult scene to shoot, and what audiences should know to prepare them for this film experience?

    Christopher McQuarrie, writer and director of 'Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One.'
    Christopher McQuarrie, writer and director of ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.’

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with McQuarrie, Simon Pegg, Hayley Atwell, Vanessa Kirby, Pom Klementieff, Shea Whigham, and Greg Tarzan Davis.

    Moviefone: To begin with, this is the third ‘Mission: Impossible’ movie you’ve directed and you have a fourth, ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two’ coming out next year. How do you keep each story fresh?

    Christopher McQuarrie: Tom and I simply take everything that we’ve learned on every film we do and apply it to the next one. So what you’re looking at with ‘Dead Reckoning Part One’ is everything we learned not only from the previous ‘Mission Impossible’ movies, but also from ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ and ‘Edge of Tomorrow.’ All the films that we’ve worked on together and separately, and we’re always just trying to take everything we’ve learned and take it to the next level. Push it a little bit beyond.

    Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie on the set of 'Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning - Part One' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    (L to R) Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie on the set of ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning – Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    MF: What is it like working with Tom Cruise to design the amazing action sequences in these movies?

    CM: We will be talking about stunts. For example, when we were shooting ‘Fallout’ and doing the halo jump out of the C-17, we were already talking about how cool it would be to drive a motorcycle off a cliff. There’s motorcycle stunts, and there’s skydiving stunts in our previous movies. So it was taking what we learned about motorcycles, taking what we learned about skydiving and putting them together, and then what would you get? We had talked about base jumping previously and all of that coalesced in this movie, into that stunt. We’d been talking about a train sequence for a long time, and a desert sequence for a long time. I’ve always been obsessed with submarines, trains, and the Arctic. They were all environments that I was fascinated with. The nice thing about these movies, and especially doing multiple installments of them, is that I get to make every movie that I never had the opportunity to make elsewhere. It’s just a great playground and a great opportunity.

    Tom Cruise plays Ethan Hunt in 'Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning - Part One 'from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    Tom Cruise plays Ethan Hunt in ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning – Part One ‘from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    Related Article: Hayley Atwell Talks ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’

    MF: Can you talk about why you prefer using practical effects over VFX, especially in this series?

    CM: CGI would be in a lot of ways easier. Here’s what the challenge is for CGI. First of all, I use it quite a bit and it’s an extremely valuable tool. If everything is CGI, you get everything that you want. You’ll get exactly the shot the way you designed it. What you will not really get is chaos and unpredictability. And that’s what these movies are really about. So when you’re doing it practically, you’re making discoveries that you might not ever otherwise have made. That’s where the reality is truly coming from, it’s not something I made up, and it’s not something Tom made up. It’s chaos. It’s the randomness of what’s happening in those shots, the things that you never could have imagined. That’s what truly makes it feel real. That’s what makes it immersive. What’s most important to Tom and I, it’s not so much the spectacle. It’s that whatever’s happening, it’s happening to you. You’re experiencing it with those characters. That’s something that I’ve yet to be able to create using only CGI.

    (L to R) Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie on the set of 'Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    (L to R) Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie on the set of ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    MF: What was the most difficult sequence in this movie to shoot?

    CM: Every sequence was difficult in its own way. There were a lot of challenges in production itself, but also in the standard to which we held ourself. We created a pretty specific outline for how we wanted to shoot the movie and never deviated from it. Then we designed that sequence and a lot of that sequence, we designed virtually. As much as you might design something virtually, it can never prepare you for the sheer physics of what you’re about to do practically. That sequence was extraordinarily challenging and very difficult to do. More than anything, it’s just extremely physically taxing on the actors. When you are seeing Tom and Hayley going through that environment, they’re really doing it and it’s quite physically challenging. There are times when they’re on a set that starts horizontally and goes a full 90 degrees vertical while they’re running up. It’s as tough as any obstacle course you’ve ever seen anybody run in their life, and they’re really doing it. It’s quite extraordinary what they achieved.

    MF: Finally, what would you tell audiences sitting down to watch this movie to prepare them for the cinematic experience they are about to have?

    CM: Get ready to watch the biggest, boldest ‘Mission: Impossible’ yet.

    Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie on the set of 'Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    (L to R) Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie on the set of ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One:’

    Buy Tickets: ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy ‘Mission: Impossible’ Movies On Amazon

    ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ is produced by Paramount, Skydance Media, New Republic Pictures, and TC Productions. The movie is scheduled to release in theaters on July 12th, 2023.

  • Movie Review: ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’

    Tom Cruise in 'Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    Tom Cruise in ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    Opening in theaters on July 12th is the latest installment of the ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise entitled ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,’ which was co-written and directed by Academy Award-winner Christopher McQuarrie (‘The Usual Suspects,’ ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’).

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    What is the plot of ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’?

    In ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,’ Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his IMF team embark on their most dangerous mission yet: To track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity before it falls into the wrong hands. With control of the future and the fate of the world at stake, and dark forces from Ethan’s past closing in, a deadly race around the globe begins. Confronted by a mysterious, all-powerful enemy, Ethan is forced to consider that nothing can matter more than his mission – not even the lives of those he cares about most.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’?

    Tom Cruise (‘Top Gun‘) as Ethan Hunt, Hayley Atwell (‘Captain America: The First Avenger‘) as Grace, Esai Morales (‘Master Gardener‘) as Gabriel, Ving Rhames (‘Pulp Fiction‘) as Luther Stickell, Simon Pegg (‘Hot Fuzz‘) as Benji Dunn, Rebecca Ferguson (‘Dune‘) as Ilsa Faust, Vanessa Kirby (‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw‘) as Alanna Mitsopolis, Pom Klementieff (‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3’) as Paris, Henry Czerny (‘Scream VI‘) as Eugene Kittridge, Shea Whigham (‘Joker‘) as Jasper Briggs, and Greg Tarzan Davis (‘Top Gun: Maverick‘) as Degas.

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    Initial Thoughts

    ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ delivers exactly what we’ve come to expect from director Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise’s ‘Mission: Impossible’ movies. The film is fun, exciting, action-packed, and features some of the craziest stunts you’ve ever seen on the big screen. Cruise is commanding once again as Ethan Hunt, and Hayley Atwell is a fantastic addition to the franchise.

    Story and Direction

    (L to R) Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie on the set of 'Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    (L to R) Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie on the set of ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    Unlike the last few ‘Mission’ movies, ‘Dead Reckoning Part One’ does not begin with a one-off scene of Tom Cruise hanging off a mountain or the wing of a moving plane, instead focusing on a Russian submarine malfunction that sets off the plot of the movie. We soon discover that a new self-aware AI is threatening to throw the world into chaos, and it’s up to Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his IMF team to track down a key (the film’s McGuffin) that can control the AI. But first, they’ll need to discover what the key actually unlocks, and who is working with the AI, also known as the Entity.

    Things get more complicated for Hunt when he is labeled a terrorist by his old boss, Eugene Kittridge (Henry Czerny) after refusing to give half of the key to the US government, as Hunt believes it is too dangerous to exist and must be destroyed. Hunt secured his half of the key from his alley Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), and goes to meet a buyer who has the other half of the key, planning to follow them to the Entity.

    However, when a pickpocket named Grace (Hayley Atwell) steals both halves of the key, Ethan has no choice but to recruit her for his team and train her to help him. Meanwhile, Hunt discovers that a man from his past before joining the IMF, Gabriel (Esai Morales), is working with the entity and has a personal vendetta against him.

    (L to R) Tom Cruise and Henry Czerny in 'Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    (L to R) Tom Cruise and Henry Czerny in ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    In my opinion, the ‘Mission’ franchise was on shaky ground until director Christopher McQuarrie joined the series. Brian De Palma’s ‘Mission: Impossible’ was a decent adaption of the classic TV series, but was not without its issues. John Woo’s ‘Mission: Impossible II’ was a huge disappointment, and the worst film in the series. Director J.J. Abrams feature film debut, ‘Mission: Impossible III’ is criminally underrated and one of the better films in the series, but failed to have the box office numbers of its predecessors.

    Brad Bird’s ‘Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol’ put the franchise back on track, but the series didn’t really gel and become what it has until McQuarrie was brought on board with ‘Mission: Impossible – Rouge Nation,” which is why ‘Dead Reckoning Part One’ feels more like a continuation of what McQuarrie and Cruise created with that movie and ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout.’

    While the film runs well over 2 and a half hours, McQuarrie does an excellent job of pacing the movie and keeping the “Mission” tone intact. This film, and in turn next year’s ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two’ are a much bigger story than we’ve seen in past installments, which is why it will take two movies to tell the entire story. But with that said, McQuarrie still manages to craft a satisfying ending to ‘Part One,’ even if it is not the conclusion of this particular story.

    Tom Cruise’s Performance and his Amazing Stunts

    Tom Cruise plays Ethan Hunt in 'Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning - Part One 'from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    Tom Cruise plays Ethan Hunt in ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning – Part One ‘from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    By now, half of the fun of a ‘Mission: Impossible’ movie is seeing what absolutely bonkers stunts McQuarrie, Cruise and their stunt team come up with, and ‘Dead Reckoning’ does not disappoint. Cruise released a video last year that demonstrated one of the stunts that he would be performing in the new film, which saw him driving a motorcycle off a mountain and then parachuting to the ground. Many fans thought that it would be the signature stunt of the film, and while it is certainly impressive, the movie has even more incredible stunts than that. There is a fantastic chase scene in Rome, but the real attraction is an unbelievable train sequence that is the centerpiece of the ending and one of the best action sequences I’ve ever seen. It will truly keep you on the edge of your seat.

    Cruise has been playing Ethan Hunt for over twenty-five years, and while some might say Maverick from ‘Top Gun’ is his signature character, at this point its’ got to be Hunt, who Cruise has portrayed more than any other character. The evolution of the character, and Cruise as an actor, can be witnessed over these seven movies. In the first ‘Mission: Impossible,’ Ethan Hunt was a fresh-faced IMF member betrayed by his boss, Jim Phelps (Jon Voight). He would later become IMF’s greatest team leader, creating deep friendships with Luther, Benji, and Elsa. Watching those relationships grow and seeing how they’ve changed Ethan from who he was when we first met him, is one of the joys of ‘Dead Reckoning.’

    Cruise gives another powerhouse performance and is absolutely commanding as Hunt. It’s hard sometimes to tell the difference between Tom Cruise and Ethan Hunt, but the character is so charming, it doesn’t really matter if you are rooting for him or the actor playing him. We’ve grown up with Ethan Hunt, and Tom Cruise for that matter, and part of his power as an actor is that he is just so likable. ‘Top Gun’ aside, ‘Mission: Impossible’ is Cruise’s best franchise overall and Ethan Hunt is definitely the character he will be best remembered for most. Cruise has great chemistry with Rhames, Pegg, and especially Ferguson, but is also great aside new co-star Hayley Atwell. As for the action sequences, no one does it like Tom Cruise, and the actor has pushed the boundaries for our entertainment one more time.

    Returning Characters

    Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames in 'Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning - Part One' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    (L to R) Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames in ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning – Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    Ving Rhames has been a part of the franchise since the beginning, just like Cruise, and it just wouldn’t be a ‘Mission’ movie without him. The actor has some very nice emotional scenes with Cruise and Atwell, and as always a funny rapport with Simon Pegg. For his part, Benji has also become a vital element of the ‘Mission’ formula, joining the series in the third installment, and Pegg has grown into the role well bringing his own charm and humor to the franchise. A more recent but equally important addition to the series is Rebecca Ferguson as Ilsa Faust. The movie explores her deep connection to Hunt, and her scenes with Cruise are some of the most emotionally packed of the film.

    Vanessa Kirby also returns as the “White Widow,” daughter of “Max” (Vanessa Redgrave) from the first movie. She has a funny exchange with Cruise, but is mostly used in the third act. I won’t spoil her role, but as an actor she has a challenging scene to play and really made it work. But the most surprising returning face belongs to actor Henry Czerny, who plays former director of the IMF, Eugene Kittridge, last seen in the very first ‘Mission: Impossible.’ Kittridge was always a foil for Hunt, and their respectful yet antagonistic attitude towards each other is fun to watch on screen. Czerny is great in the role and it nice to see him back in the franchise.

    Related Article: Hayley Atwell Talks ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’

    New Characters

    Hayley Atwell in 'Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning - Part One' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    Hayley Atwell in ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning – Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    Hayley Atwell plays Ethan Hunt’s latest recruit, a thief named Grace, and is absolutely mesmerizing in the role. If it’s possible to steal a scene from Tom Cruise, then Atwell succeeds with her charming and street-smart yet sophisticated character. Best known for playing Captain America’s girlfriend Peggy Carter in several different MCU projects, it’s nice to see the actress finally get a chance to show off her talents. Atwell totally holds her own against Cruise, and the two have a very nice chemistry together. Grace is a complex character, you never really know who’s side she’s on, and Atwell navigates that with confidence.

    Also new to the franchise is ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3’s Pom Klementieff who plays Paris, one of Gabriel’s assassins. The actress is obviously having a blast in the role and its super fun watching her smash cars and shoot machine guns while smiling and laughing in-character. Klementieff is great in the action sequences and creates an interesting and appealing character, one that I hope we see more of from the franchise in the future.

    The Villains

    (L to R) Esai Morales and Pom Klementieff in 'Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    (L to R) Esai Morales and Pom Klementieff in ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    Esai Morales plays the main villain, Gabriel and while it’s great to see the veteran actor get such a large role in a big franchise, his character doesn’t quite work. We’re told he’s from Ethan’s past and responsible for some tragedy, but except for a few quick flashbacks, this is not really explored or resolved in this movie. It will probably be addressed in ‘Part Two,’ but more clarification in this film who have helped the audience to better understand Gabriel’s motivations. Morales is fine for the most part, and very impressive in his action sequences, but overall, the character wasn’t believable as Ethan’s archrival.

    The other villain related disappointment comes from the fact that the Entity is really the big bad of the movie. That’s right … a computer! I really hope that an actual human being is revealed as the true villain in the next movie, because as realistic as it might be n 2023, I just can’t buy artificial intelligence as the ultimate villain of the movie. Sorry, but I don’t want to see ‘Ethan Hunt v. Skynet.’ I know that there are inherently sci-fi elements baked into ‘Mission: Impossible’ going all the way back to the original series, but for me this is a spy series first, like an American version of James Bond (which arguably also had sci-fi elements) and should stick to its lane because it does spy thrillers really well.

    Too Much Joking Around

    Hayley Atwell and Tom Cruise in 'Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    (L to R) Hayley Atwell and Tom Cruise in ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    The ‘Mission: Impossible’ series has always been fun and had a certain amount of humor to it. But for some reason, about half way through ‘Dead Reckoning,’ there are several bad jokes injected into the action. For example, in Rome, Hunt and Grace steal a Fiat while being chased. When Hunt tries to start the car, it won’t start, and he begins apologizing to Grace saying, “I don’t know what happened. This never happens to me.” First of all, Ethan Hunt should never apologize for anything … he’s Ethan Hunt! Secondly, it seemed like an awkward attempt at some kind of weird sexual innuendo and it’s just out of place for the franchise and off brand for Tom Cruise.

    Only Half of the Story

    Tom Cruise in 'Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    Tom Cruise in ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    I’ll give ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ credit for at least explaining in the title that this movie will be continued. I know a lot of people that went to see both ‘Fast X’ and ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ and were disappointed to find that those movies didn’t really end, and they’ll have to wait to see the conclusion of those stories. While I’m sure the ‘Part One’ in the title will help with audience’s expectations of the ending, the truth is that this movie only tells half of a story. Again, McQuarrie did a great job with the ending, it feels satisfying and doesn’t end on a huge cliffhanger, even if we will have to wait till next year’s ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two’ to see the actual conclusion of the story.

    But I do wonder if this story couldn’t have been told in one movie, as a lot of the action sequences go on longer than needed. If you cut some of the action, you could fit in more of the story, but with a franchise like this where the action is so important, I guess it’s better to tell a story over two films so you can afford the luxury of more action without sacrificing the character development and plot.

    Final Thoughts

    In the end, ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ is a solid entry to the franchise and on par with Christopher McQuarrie’s previous contributions to the series. Tom Cruise is at the height of his power, returning to his signature character and a series of groundbreaking and death-defying stunts, while Hayley Atwell is delightful as the newest addition to the franchise.

    ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ receives 8.5 out of 10 stars.

    ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ will be in theaters on July 14th, 2023.
    ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ will be in theaters on July 14th, 2023.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One:’

    Buy Tickets: ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy ‘Mission: Impossible’ Movies On Amazon

    ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ is produced by Paramount, Skydance Media, New Republic Pictures, and TC Productions. The movie is scheduled to release in theaters on July 12th, 2023.

  • Where To Watch ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’

    Marvel Studio's 'Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3.'
    Marvel Studio’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel.com.

    Let’s get hooked on a feeling one more time with the latest installment of the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ franchise – ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3’

    The film is set after the events of ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special’, where we find the band of misfits in their new home on Knowhere. Unexpectedly, a new powerful enemy crashes in and injures Rocket, and if the Guardians don’t act fast enough, it could mean life or death for their teammate.

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    The official synopsis for ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ is below:

    “In Marvel Studios ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ our beloved band of misfits are looking a bit different these days. Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.”

    ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ opened in theaters on May 5th, 2023, to $118.4 million domestically and has grossed over $348.5 million since its opening. Worldwide box office earnings have grossed over $825.3 million since its release. This was a highly anticipated film among Marvel fans and is certified Fresh on aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, with an 82% score from critics and a 94% score from the audience.

    Our team of galactic heroes for ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ includes Chris Pratt (‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’) as Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana (‘Avatar: The Way of Water’) as Gamora, Dave Bautista (‘Knock at the Cabin’) as Drax the Destroyer, Karen Gillan (‘Jumanji: The Next Level’) as Nebula, Pom Klementieff (‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’) as Mantis, Vin Diesel (‘Fast X’) as the voice of Groot, Bradley Cooper (‘A Star Is Born’) as the voice of Rocket, Sean Gunn (‘The Suicide Squad’) as Kraglin, Elizabeth Debicki (‘Tenet’) as Ayesha, and Sylvester Stallone (‘Samaritan’) as Stakgar Ogord. Newcomers to the franchise include Chudwuki Iwuji (‘The Girl Who Got Away’) as The High Evolutionary, Will Poulter (‘We’re the Millers’) as Adam Warlock, Maria Bakalova (‘Borat Subsequent Moviefilm’) as the voice of Cosmo the Dog, and Daniela Melchior (‘Fast X’) as Ura.

    The New Galactic Threats

    Will Poulter as Adam Warlock in Marvel Studios' 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.'
    (L to R) Will Poulter as Adam Warlock in Marvel Studios’ ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.’ Photo by Jessica Miglio. © 2022 Marvel.

    The team faces brand new threats in this movie, with the stakes being higher than ever when it involves one of the members of the team. Still recovering from his heartbreak and loss of Gamora, Peter Quill and his band of misfits are settled in on Knowhere when Adam Warlock crashes in.

    Adam Warlock has long been teased to appear in the MCU since ‘Thor: Dark World’ and the first ‘Guardians of the Galaxy.’ However, it was in the post-credit scene in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2’ that confirmed his appearance. Played by Will Poulter, the MCU’s Adam Warlock origin differs from the comics. Instead of being created by scientists, Adam Warlock in the film is a Sovereign warrior created by the high priestess Ayesha and The High Evolutionary.

    The film also introduces The High Evolutionary (played by Chukwudi Iwuji) to the MCU. A geneticist whose personal mission is to create the perfect species, he abducted various creatures for his experiment, with Rocket Raccoon (then named 89P13) being one of his test subjects. When Rocket points out the flaws in The High Evolutionary’s project, it confuses and angers him to the point where he orders Rocket’s brain to be removed so that he can study him.

    Rocket manages to escape. Years later, when The High Evolutionary learns of his involvement with the Guardians of the Galaxy, he orders Adam Warlock to retrieve him at all costs.

    Rocket’s Story

    Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) in Marvel Studios' 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.'
    Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) in Marvel Studios’ ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 Marvel.

    When it comes to the Guardians of the Galaxy, we know we’re in for a grand space adventure, with hilarious banter between the Guardians. However, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ takes on a more somber and emotional tone. With director James Gunn being the co-chairman of DC Studios, this is likely the final film he’ll direct for Marvel. This movie not only wraps up the adventures of the current team of the Guardians, but it also dives into the origin story of Rocket.

    Previously named 89P13, Rocket Raccoon is subjected to tests and experiments by The High Evolutionary. In flashback scenes, we meet Rocket’s fellow cagemates Floor, Teefs, and Lylla. The four friends found comfort in each other, often playing games and daydreaming about the “forever and beautiful sky.” The message of animal cruelty is not missed in the film, and what The High Evolutionary does to Rocket and his friends will send a shock through your system and gives you an insight into some of Rocket’s hardened personality.

    Though the Guardians tend to bicker with each other, the group has become quite close-knit. Once Rocket’s life is on the line, his friends will stop at nothing to save him, even if it means sacrificing themselves. Rocket is definitely the heart of this story and we suggest you have some tissues on standby when you watch.

    Where Can I Watch ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’?

    Karen Gillan as Nebula, Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord, and Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer in 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.'
    (L to R) Karen Gillan as Nebula, Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord, and Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel.com.

    Related Article: Director James Gunn and Chris Pratt Talk ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3’

    The film premiered at Disneyland Paris on April 22nd, 2023. Later, the US premiere was held at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, California, on April 27th, 2023. The movie is still showing in theaters, so be sure to check with Moviefone below for showtimes in your area. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ has a total runtime of 2 hours and 30 minutes, making it the longest film in the Guardians franchise.

    Buy Tickets: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3’ Movie Showtimes

    Watch the official trailers for ‘Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3’ below:

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    Can’t make it out to the theater? You will soon have the option to rent or purchase the movie on VOD. Services such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Movies Anywhere will have the movie available digitally on July 7th, 2023.

    Where To Watch: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3’ Online

    As for as streaming goes, an official date hasn’t been confirmed. The movie is released by Disney so it is likely to end up on Disney+ once it is ready to go to streaming.

    For those who prefer physical copies, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ will be available on DVD/Blu-Ray on August 1st, 2023, complete with special features such as featurettes, deleted scenes, director’s commentary, and gag reel.

    Buy ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3’ On Amazon

    Marvel Studios' 'Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3.'
    Marvel Studios’ ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3.’

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3:’

    To watch our exclusive interview with writer/director James Gunn and Chris Pratt about ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3,’ please click on the video player below.

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  • ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ – Hayley Atwell

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    ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,’ which was co-written and directed by Academy Award-winner Christopher McQuarrie (‘The Usual Suspects,’ ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’), opens in theaters on July 12th and is the latest installment of the ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise.

    What is the plot of ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’?

    In ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,’ Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his IMF team embark on their most dangerous mission yet: To track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity before it falls into the wrong hands. With control of the future and the fate of the world at stake, and dark forces from Ethan’s past closing in, a deadly race around the globe begins. Confronted by a mysterious, all-powerful enemy, Ethan is forced to consider that nothing can matter more than his mission – not even the lives of those he cares about most.

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    Who is in the cast of ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’?

    Tom Cruise (‘Top Gun‘) as Ethan Hunt, Hayley Atwell (Captain America: The First Avenger‘) as Grace, Esai Morales (‘Master Gardener‘) as Gabriel, Ving Rhames (‘Pulp Fiction‘) as Luther Stickell, Simon Pegg (‘Hot Fuzz‘) as Benji Dunn, Rebecca Ferguson (‘Dune‘) as Ilsa Faust, Vanessa Kirby (‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw‘) as Alanna Mitsopolis, Pom Klementieff (‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3’) as Paris, Henry Czerny (‘Scream VI‘) as Eugene Kittridge, Shea Whigham (‘Joker‘) as Jasper Briggs, and Greg Tarzan Davis (‘Top Gun: Maverick‘) as Degas.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Hayley Atwell about her work on ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,’ her mysterious character, her relationship to Ethan Hunt, and working with Tom Cruise.

    Hayley Atwell in 'Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning - Part One' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    Hayley Atwell in ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning – Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Pegg, Hayley Atwell, Vanessa Kirby, Pom Klementieff, Shea Whigham, Greg Tarzan, and director Christopher McQuarrie.

    Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your mysterious characters, Grace, and your approach to playing her?

    Hayley Atwell: Great question. Because it was a collaborative one over a long period of time. There was a lot of time in filming where she didn’t even have a name. So, we tried lots of different things and different kinds of qualities to see what kind of thing felt most exciting on camera and, Tom and McQuarrie, I’d met several times before. McQuarrie had come to see me in a play in London’s West End about 10 years ago and said, “I want to work with you. I just don’t know what the character is yet.” So when I came in for the screen test for this, they both said, “We’re looking for the actor we want to work with and then we will build the character with them in real time as filming commences.” So I loved that. I found that very liberating because I trusted that I was in safe hands with them. They were not going to allow me to do something that ended up on a screen that I wouldn’t be proud of. So it allowed me the freedom to try lots of different things. So, the five months of preparation of stunt training for it was also about studying films from ‘Paper Moon’ to ‘The Sting’ to ‘Broadcast News’ to ‘What’s Up Doc?,’ to try and find a levity that I could take and build with Tom as a new kind of chemistry than you’ve seen before in this kind of franchise.

    Hayley Atwell and Tom Cruise in 'Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    (L to R) Hayley Atwell and Tom Cruise in ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    Related Article: Simon Pegg Talks ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’

    MF: What is Tom Cruise like as a scene partner, especially in the action sequences?

    HA: He is dedicated, he is a consummate professional, and a gentleman. He’s very concerned with people’s health and safety as well as his own. So, he’s meticulous in his preparation for any stunt that he does, which also means that his resources or an education for myself coming into this is so huge that I too felt like I could learn so much about what’s going to keep me safe, what’s going to keep me dynamic and mobile, and able to do a stunt several times from different directions, different takes with different performance notes, and how to sustain that over months and months. You feel very much in safe hands because he’s like a boxing coach that’s on your side. When you do something or land something, he is your greatest fan because he wants to see everyone around him thrive, which means his encouragement is contagious. I think everyone says that about him, that have worked with him in this way close up with him in terms of stunts that there’s no one quite like him.

    Hayley Atwell and Tom Cruise in 'Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    (L to R) Hayley Atwell and Tom Cruise in ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    MF: Finally, can you talk about Grace’s alliance with Ethan Hunt?

    HA: That was so fun to discover. It’s going, how are they cat and mouse or sort of sibling, how can they play with each other but in a way that didn’t seem to be too calculating? That they both needed each other in some way or both looking for the same thing, and how could they get their own needs met, but by using each other? To work with him in scenes, he’s incredibly present. Anything that you offer up, he will have seen it, taken it on board and reacted to it. He’s very alive to the other actor. Even when he’s off-screen and he’s standing behind the monitor or the camera and it’s your closeup, he is right there with you giving exactly the same amount of energy and focus as he would be if he was in front of the camera too. So, you have a scene partner, you have someone that’s in your corner and someone that’s opposite you, that’s holding the space for you to the best work you can possibly do in that moment.

    Hayley Atwell stars in 'Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning - Part One' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    Hayley Atwell stars in ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning – Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One:’

    Buy Tickets: ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy ‘Mission: Impossible’ Movies On Amazon

    ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ is produced by Paramount, Skydance Media, New Republic Pictures, and TC Productions. The movie is scheduled to release in theaters on July 12th, 2023.

     

  • ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’s Simon Pegg

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    Opening in theaters on July 12th is the latest installment of the ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise entitled ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,’ which was co-written and directed by Academy Award-winner Christopher McQuarrie (‘The Usual Suspects,’ ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’).

    What is the plot of ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’?

    In ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,’ Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his IMF team embark on their most dangerous mission yet: To track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity before it falls into the wrong hands. With control of the future and the fate of the world at stake, and dark forces from Ethan’s past closing in, a deadly race around the globe begins. Confronted by a mysterious, all-powerful enemy, Ethan is forced to consider that nothing can matter more than his mission – not even the lives of those he cares about most.

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    Who is in the cast of ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’?

    ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ stars Tom Cruise (‘Top Gun‘) as Ethan Hunt, Hayley Atwell (‘Captain America: The First Avenger‘) as Grace, Esai Morales (‘Master Gardener‘) as Gabriel, Ving Rhames (‘Pulp Fiction‘) as Luther Stickell, Simon Pegg (‘Hot Fuzz‘) as Benji Dunn, Rebecca Ferguson (‘Dune‘) as Ilsa Faust, Vanessa Kirby (‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw‘) as Alanna Mitsopolis, Pom Klementieff (‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3’) as Paris, Henry Czerny (‘Scream VI‘) as Eugene Kittridge, Shea Whigham (‘Joker‘) as Jasper Briggs, and Greg Tarzan Davis (‘Top Gun: Maverick‘) as Degas.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Simon Pegg about his work on ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,’ his reaction to the screenplay, working with Tom Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie, the franchise’s signature rubber masks, and what he would say to moviegoers to prepare them for the upcoming sequel.

    Simon Pegg in 'Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    Simon Pegg in ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch the interview.

    Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to the screenplay for ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’?

    Simon Pegg: I didn’t expect to ever do another ‘Mission: Impossible’ after ‘Mission: Impossible III.’ Then I got the call from J.J. Abrams who was producing the next movie, who said, “Hey, how would you feel if Benji was an agent?” I was like, “What?” And in true Benji fashion, I accepted the mission, obviously. Then here we are five films in and the character’s still alive and kicking. I always get very excited when I hear we’re going to do another one. It means that I get to hang out with the guys and work with McQuarrie and Tom, which I love to do, and see Rebecca, Ving, and now this whole new group of friends that we have because of the new characters. It’s a real treat.

    MF: What’s it like working on set with director Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise?

    SP: It’s an adventure. It’s a genuine adventure because the way that they work, they have such a specific creative process, which involves really feeling the film out as we go. So, it’s not that we have a script that we shoot, we invent as we go. It sounds crazy, but it really works. The stuff that’s really figured out at first are the big stunts, the big set pieces, the chases, and that’s all very rigorously put together. Then the connective tissue that joins them all together, that comes organically out of our filmmaking process. It’s a wild ride.

    Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie on the set of 'Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    (L to R) Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie on the set of ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    MF: What has your experience been like acting opposite Tom Cruise in this series of films?

    SP: I love working with Tom. He’s such a professional, and obviously he’s been in the business a really long time. We often shoot stuff very technically, so we’ll get the chance to go over lines again and just really focus in on specific lines. We’ve learned each other’s rhythms, so I might say a line, and then I know when Tom wants to say a line again. If he didn’t nail it, I can see it in his eyes, so I just won’t say anything. Then he’ll say it again. Then Chris says, “Continue,” and we keep going. We’ve got a rhythm going now. It’s like a well-oiled machine.

    MF: Will we see more of the franchise’s signature rubber masks in the new movie?

    SP: I mean, of course. It wouldn’t be ‘Mission: Impossible’ without a mask gag. I love the fact that we’ve never really made fun of that particular device in these films. It’s one of the most outlandish and unlikely things that you could literally just change your face. But that was always a thing in the TV show and you just bought it because this is fantasy. There’s a science fiction edge to it, I guess, in that respect. No one’s ever made a wry joke about, “Hey, how does this work?” or that kind of thing. There’s been a few comments about Halloween masks, but we always commit to it. The masks are a real important part of ‘Mission.’ There’s a very good performance by one of the actors in our film when they play one of the other characters in the film beautifully. It’s a great moment.

    Tom Cruise and Simon Pegg in 'Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning - Part One' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    (L to R) Tom Cruise and Simon Pegg in ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    MF: Finally, what would you say to moviegoers to prepare them for the cinematic experience they are going to have when watching ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’?

    SP: Well, we’re all back in the cinema now. We’re all back at the theater and we’re watching movies again, and just in time for this, which I think is a truly cinematic experience. It’s vast in its scale and scope, and it’s incredibly exciting. One of the things I love about the theatrical experience isn’t necessarily the size of the screen. It’s the size of the audience. When you’re with people, but you don’t know anybody else there. You’re with your little group, but there are strangers in front of you, strangers behind, and you’re all sharing this moment. Cinema really democratizes groups of people, and in this day and age, everyone’s fighting about something. Everyone’s arguing and lying about something. Everyone’s got a beef with something. When you sit in a cinematic audience, all of you are having the same experience. Whatever you think about anything else, you’re in that moment together. It’s so important for us as humans to have that experience. This film, it’ll make you your heart rate accelerate, and it’ll make you gasp. It’s just one of those experiences you must have at the theater.

    Simon Pegg stars in 'Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    Simon Pegg stars in ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One:’

    Buy Tickets: ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ Movie Showtimes

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    ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ is produced by Paramount, Skydance Media, New Republic Pictures, and TC Productions. The movie is scheduled to release in theaters on July 12th, 2023.

     

  • ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3’ Global Press Conference

    Director James Gunn and the cast of 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' at the world premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood CA on Thursday, April 27, 2023.
    Director James Gunn and the cast of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ at the world premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood CA on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages.

    With ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’, writer/director James Gunn brings his Marvel trilogy to a close. The next film of Marvel’s Phase 5 opens in theaters everywhere on May 5th.

    When the movie opens, our beloved band of misfits are settling into life on Knowhere. But it isn’t long before their lives are upended by the echoes of Rocket’s turbulent past. Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), still reeling from the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), must rally his team around him on a dangerous mission to save Rocket’s (Bradley Cooper) life — a mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians.

    The film also stars Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, featuring Vin Diesel as Groot and Sean Gunn, Chukwudi Iwuji, Will Poulter and Maria Bakalova.

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    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of attending the global virtual press conference for ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ along with several other members of the press. In attendance were James Gunn, Chris Pratt, Karen Gillan, Sean Gunn, Will Poulter, Chukwudi Iwuji, Pom Klementieff, Maria Bakalova and President of Marvel Studios Kevin Feige.

    Here are the 10 things we learned from the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ global virtual press conference:

    1. James Gunn Will Miss Working on the Movies

    Writer and director James Gunn at Los Angeles premiere of 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.'
    Writer and director James Gunn at Los Angeles premiere of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.’

    Gunn, who is now focused on his work at DC Studios, reflected on the impact of the ‘Guardians’ trilogy.

    James Gunn: I think it’s changed me in so many ways. I mean, everything I’ve learned from Kevin and Lou (executive producer Louis D’Esposito). I think also, in terms of just this family of people, I’ve been really good at hiring non-jerks. Not only non-jerks, but people who are actually positive, compassionate, loving, kind people. And so, I’ve just grown incredibly close to these people. I really love them. And it makes making movies a much more pleasant experience. So, my main memories are not going to the premieres or, you know, going on these press junkets. It’s being on set and having the little moments. It’s doing bits with Chris in between sets. It’s, talking to Sean. Watching Chuk turn in an amazing performance. Goofing around with Pom, wondering what the hell she’s talking about. I’m gonna miss the characters. That’s the saddest part for me, is I really, truly love these characters. I love all of them. I think there’s certain ones that I have a special fondness for, especially Rocket. And yeah, the saddest part of all of this. I’m gonna see all these people again. They’re all friends of mine. But I’m not gonna see the characters. I’m not gonna be writing the characters again, at least not in the near future. And so, that’s a real sadness.

    2. Chris Pratt Says We Find His Character in a Bad Emotional Place

    Marvel Studio's 'Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3.'
    Marvel Studio’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel.com.

    Pratt talked about how Peter “Star Lord” Quill is still recovering from the losses he’s suffered.

    Chris Pratt: I think, oftentimes, we find ourselves in our relationships or in the affiliations we have with a team or a family or whatever. And he has been lost. So, yeah, in the beginning, he was running away from the death of his mother, but he got to pretend to be this character based on these pop culture icons of his childhood of the late-’80s. And so, he was dancing around, but all of that was really, he had found himself there. But it was kinda B.S., you know? And then he found himself with the Guardians of the Galaxy. And then he thought he could find himself with who his father was. So, he’s a guy who’s constantly been searching for who he is. And then he found it again in his relationship with Gamora. And so, when that’s stripped away from him, he’s a guy who’s realizing that all of these various people that he’s found that are Quill, none of them have been the real him. And so, he is, he’s lost. And that probably does mean that he’s sad.

    3. Kevin Feige Says ‘Vol. 3’ is Different From Other Marvel Trilogies

    Kevin Feige at the world premiere of 'Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3' at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood CA on Thursday, April 27, 2023.
    Kevin Feige at the world premiere of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3’ at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood CA on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages.

    The Marvel boss explained the thinking behind the new movie.

    Kevin Feige: We’ve had trilogies before. We’ve had a number of them, actually. And I was thinking, why does this feel so different and so much of a passage of some sort? And it’s because Guardians really was the first movie that was completely outside of the realm. It tied in with Thanos and Infinity Stones. But The Avengers were not in it. And we weren’t setting up Tony Stark’s next adventure, or Captain America. And it was really our attempt of saying, we don’t wanna just do superhero movies. We don’t want to just do ‘Iron Man‘ movies or ‘Avengers‘ movies. And we wanted to do a big space movie. And it worked in a crazy way. It worked entirely because of James Gunn. So, it just feels like this trilogy, and James writing and directing all three of them, it represents something unique within the pantheon of the MCU, that I’m very proud of.

    4. Pom Klementieff Explained the Differences Between the Comic-book Mantis and the Movie Version

    Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer and Pom Klementieff as Mantis in 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.'
    (L to R) Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer and Pom Klementieff as Mantis in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel.com.

    Mantis, the emotion-and-memory manipulating character we met in ‘Vol. 2‘ has changed a lot from the comic book version.

    Pom Klementieff: I think it was so interesting to give a different version of Mantis. I mean, in the comic books, she was great, too. She was, like, very powerful. But kinda similar to a lot of other female characters in the Marvel universe or in other superhero movies. I think it was so interesting to give a different take on a female character and make it give more comedy and more awkwardness and something different.

    James Gunn also talked about the character.

    James Gunn: I think it’s also cool to have somebody who their superpower is empathy. It is feelings. Emotions are so important to Mantis. And we’re so used to this very male, hardcore, macho, shooting rays out of their arms, or throwing automobiles and shooting people.

    5. Sean Gunn on Kraglin Finding His Place Among the Characters

    Sean Gunn as Kraglin in Marvel Studios' 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.'
    Sean Gunn as Kraglin in Marvel Studios’ ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 Marvel.

    Related Article: Director James Gunn and Chris Pratt Talk ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3’

    Gunn (brother to James), who plays the Ravager-turned-Guardian Kraglin, explained how his character’s journey mirrored his own.

    Sean Gunn: I think that, just like all the Guardians, Kraglin had to figure out what his place in the family was. And one thing that really impresses me about the movies is how I do feel, in a way, that the journey of the cast has mirrored the journey of the characters, in a way. And that for me, being there in the first movie and feeling like, ‘oh, I’m the director’s brother and I’m here and I’m kind of on the outside.’ And Kraglin is just on the peripheral, and he comes in and says his things here and there. And then learning that, over the course of the movies, that I felt as much at home with all these people, that I felt fully accepted and a full member of the cast and of the group.

    6. Kevin Feige Talked About the Challenges of the ‘Guardians’ Movies to Begin With

    Zoe Saldaña, Chris Pratt, Rocket, Dave Bautista and Groot in 'Guardians of the Galaxy.'
    (L to R) Zoe Saldaña, Chris Pratt, Rocket, Dave Bautista and Groot in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy.’

    He was, he says, “nervous” about tackling the characters, but had faith in Gunn.

    Kevin Feige: It always makes me nervous. But the goal has always been to do justice to the audience members who have loved these characters their whole lives, and to audience members who’ve never heard of these characters, or who heard of them for the first time in the trailer or in the poster. Which, for ‘Guardians’ in particular, was certainly the majority of the audience. Now on the flip side of that, there are people who go, “Well, people don’t really know the Guardians, so you really have a lot of leeway to do new things.” Which you do, but James was constantly going to the comics and constantly referring to the comics and constantly building off of the storylines. So, people who did know these characters from the more recent run at the time, or the early run, saw things they could get excited about. And just as important, people who never heard of this crazy spaceman with a tree and a raccoon.

    7. Maria Bakalova Loves Playing Cosmo the Space Dog

    Maria Bakalova and Cosmo the Spacedog at the world premiere of 'Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3' at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood CA on
    Maria Bakalova and Cosmo the Spacedog at the world premiere of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3’ at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood CA on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages.

    The ‘Borat’ sequel star brought the canine character to life on set via Performance Capture

    Maria Bakalova: When I was auditioning for the part, I was, “How can I play this?” And it was so interesting, because you can make it be a little bit more over the top, because she’s a puppy and she has more energy. And then, when I found out that I can be on set, actually, and work with a mo-cap suit, and imagine that I’m a child again and use my imagination to be like, “Okay, today I’m going to be a dog. Tomorrow I will be a flower. The next day, I’m going to be a butterfly.” It’s interesting, we tend to forget about imagination when we grow up. And it’s been just incredible.

    8. James Gunn Has A Policy for the Music in the ‘Guardians’ Movies

    The Old 97’s in Marvel Studios' 'The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special,' exclusively on Disney+.
    The Old 97’s in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Jessica Miglio. © 2022 Marvel.

    ‘Vol. 3’, like its predecessors is full of great tunes. And Gunn curates his soundtracks carefully.

    James Gunn: I want to give good music to people by good bands! And I snuck a couple of favorites in there. I snuck my friends, you know, The Replacements in there. I snuck Alice Cooper, my hero, in there. When I’m writing, I put the music in along with the script. I write it in. But sometimes I change it. Sometimes on this, it was very difficult choosing the music for this movie because in the first two movies, they were basically all am ‘70s pop hits. In this one, it takes place after Yondu (Michael Rooker) gives Peter Quill a Zune at the end of the second movie. And it’s music from the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, 2000s. I could choose from anything. So, it was very difficult because of that.

    9. Pratt Would Happily Make More Movies with James Gunn

    James Gunn and Chris Pratt attend the 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood CA on Thursday, April 27, 2023.
    (L to R) James Gunn and Chris Pratt attend the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood CA on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages.

    While Gunn might not be making any more ‘Guardians’ films, Pratt still wants to work with him.

    Chris Pratt: First of all, I’d jump at the opportunity. Making movies is really fun. When you get to do it with people that you love, it’s even more fun. That’s the journey, right? The destination, it sometimes sucks. You have this great time with all your friends, and you get together and you work hard. And then you see the movie and you’re like, “Boy, that movie sucked. But, hey, that was a lot of fun to make it.” With James, it’s been both the journey and the destination have been glorious. The films are incredible. I don’t know how he does it. And so, just selfishly, I’d be willing to deal with a terrible journey to get to this destination.

    10. Karen Gillan Enjoyed Nebula’s Character Development

    Karen Gillan as Nebula and Zoe Saldaña as Gamora in 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.'
    (L to R) Karen Gillan as Nebula and Zoe Saldaña as Gamora in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel.com.

    Nebula has evolved from an antagonist in the original movie to a key member of the team here.

    Karen Gillan: It’s been beautiful to see. Nebula was always the kind of bitter one. So jealous of Gamora. And then, she evolved and Gamora kind of helped her gain some compassion along the way. And now they’ve switched places in a way. Which has been really interesting to play around with. But yeah. It’s been really beautiful to watch their relationship evolve and become what it is. It’s been amazing.

    The cast of 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' at the premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood CA on Thursday, April 27, 2023.
    The cast of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ at the premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood CA on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages.

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    Witten and directed by James Gunn, the Sci-Fi action adventure comedy ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ is scheduled for release from Marvel Studios on May 5th 2023.