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Los Angeles Times
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Esai Morales is the bad guy in ‘Mission Impossible.' He's embracing it
Esai Morales is on a death-defying mission to make Tom Cruise's life impossible, yet again, in the latest installment of the 'Mission: Impossible' action film franchise. Titled 'The Final Reckoning,' the movie was released Friday. Morales reprises his role as Gabriel, an assassin liaison set on carrying out a dangerous mission for Entity, an artificial intelligence system gone rogue, whose capabilities render it a danger to human society. This role dates back to the first 'Mission: Impossible' film in 1996, as a murder Gabriel committed was the impetus for Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) to join the Impossible Missions Force. 'I have to look at Gabriel as the star of his own movie,' said Morales in a video call. 'I play these characters with as much humanity as I can.' Although for most of the franchise Gabriel is presumably dead, audiences are introduced to Morales' character in the 2023 summer flick, 'Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One.' Besides shouldering responsibility as the main antagonist, which involves risky stunts opposite veteran adventurer Cruise, Morales also made franchise history as the first Latino lead in the action series. The Brooklyn-born Puerto Rican actor is best known for his role as Bob Morales in the 1987 Chicano film 'La Bamba' and as Jesus 'Chucho' Sánchez in 1995's 'Mi Familia' — both of which been added to the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress. Morales is also known for his roles as Joseph Adama in the 'Battlestar Galactica' prequel spin-off of 'Caprica,' as well as Camino del Rio in Netflix's 'Ozark' and villain Deathstroke in the DC 'Titans' series. 'The thing I love about 'Mission: Impossible,' with Gabriel, is that you don't know he's Latino,' Morales said. 'It doesn't focus on race. It focuses on the race to get the key!' Likewise, the release of the last two 'Mission: Impossible' films was a dash to the finish. Directed by Christopher McQuarriel, filming spanned five years with some stops along the way due to the COVID-19 pandemic, plus the 2023 strikes by members of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) and the Writers Guild of America. Additional costs due to inflation brought the total budget of the Paramount Pictures movie up to $400 million, making it one of the most expensive films of all time. Morales considers its release a momentous occasion — and a 'graduation' of sorts. 'All those obstacles are like the pressure that creates a diamond out of coal,' he said. 'I hope that the audiences feel what I felt and continue to feel when I watch the film.' This interview has been edited for clarity and shortened. How did you prepare physically and mentally for the role in 'Mission: Impossible'? I was asked if I was physical and I said, 'Actually, yeah.' I love playing tennis so my conditioning is really good. During the pandemic, I [would sneak] into the ocean at dusk and I would swim at night for hours at a time. It was kind of scary. Then [I got] to London and met some of the finest stunt people who do fighting, acrobatics, knife fighting, boxing. The thing is to get your reflexes in shape, because sometimes you have to do take after take and you don't want to gas out. Mentally it's a lifetime of preparation. It's not like I can study the life of Gabriel, so you apply what you can about your own character and characteristics under imaginary circumstances. Some of it comes from the ether… from the ether going after Ethan [laughs]. It's an instinct and a lifetime of seeing movies, including the 'Mission: Impossible' movies. They work hard. One of the most comforting things they instill is [that] 'we're not gonna leave until we get it right.' Cruise is known for his gutsy live-action scenes. What was it like to join him on these scenes? It's thrilling. I couldn't think of anyone else whose hands I'd want to put my well-being in, because look at his track record: He's still alive and extremely healthy, and he doesn't take these things lightly. He's extremely strict about safety. Life is inherently risky. If you're gonna take other risks, it's best to take them with people that have survived and thrived for decades doing the same. There's a death-defying scene up in the air that was being teased a lot in this press run. What was going through your mind as you were up there? After the initial prayers and thanking God, the universe and the angels, who and whatever has kept me alive and blessed me with an amazing life so far... You've gotta let go and let God, as they say. What impact has this franchise had on your long-term career? It's a blessing. I got the job during one of the most trying times of my life — and everyone else's. I hope it's not all downhill from here. I'm just grateful because I got to work on something at this scale, with these kinds of collaborators. I am hoping that the work I continue to do leads to meaningful roles and characters that enhance the human condition for having watched it. I wanna do things that make people feel good about being human. Even if I'm the bad guy, somebody's gotta play the bad guy. Right? But is Gabriel really the bad guy? Not in this actor's eyes. For me, I have to look at Gabriel as the star of his own movie. Wars are not fought by people who feel they're gonna lose them. So I play these characters with as much humanity as I can. How did the COVID-19 pandemic and Hollywood strikes impact production of this film? I am on the board of SAG-AFTRA. I did feel the impact of both COVID-19 and the strikes. I mean, it was not easy, it was not fun. It's still not easy. We still have to deal with new media or new technology, speaking of AI. The production stuck together. When you struggle with adversity, it makes you stronger. You consider yourself an honorary Chicano, particularly because of your role as Bob Morales in 'La Bamba.' What memories come to mind when you think back to that role? So many, but the incredible irony or synchronicity or synergy that a role with my [last] name on it would be one of the most remembered. They'd say, 'That has your name all over it.' Well, this [role] literally did. When people wanted me to focus more on Ritchie, I wanted to bear witness and lend my pain to the role of Bob [Ritchie Valens' brother]. I don't know where my career would be without that film and a few others. When you have the ability to be with the person you are portraying, first of all, it's an extreme amount of pressure because they're there and you're not them. And it's like you're gonna pretend to inhabit their being and their life. You don't wanna mess up. But [Bob and I] were able to bond and have a few beers and really kick back, and I was able to absorb Bob's biorhythm. I absorbed his Mexicanismo, [the same way] Anthony Quinn portrayed 'Zorba the Greek.' [Whenever] he went [into] a Greek restaurant, plates would crash in honor of him and his portrayal ... and he is a Mexican Irish actor. I think a lot of people forget that you're Puerto Rican because you play the Mexican role so well. I'm proud to be Puerto Rican, but I'm so secure in it that I don't feel like I have to wear my banner on my head. I just want my work to speak for itself. We have to embrace that which has toughened us and has given us character and has given us something a little extra yearn for and live for. There are many Latinos in sci-fi films. I'm thinking of you in 'Caprica.' There's also Diego Luna and Adria Arjona in 'Andor,' Zoe Saldaña in 'Guardians of the Galaxy,' Pedro Pascal in 'The Mandalorian,' Ricardo Montalbán in 'Star Trek ...' What do you think of space roles introducing Latino actors to new audiences? How about to their own audience? We make up 25% of the movie-going audience, at least. It's a wise decision to include people that in the past were overlooked. We were overlooked. So to put in all the great people is serving your market and representing them. It's long overdue but extremely welcomed. Is outer space the gateway to more Latinos in mainstream roles in rom-coms or action? I would like to see that. I would like to see us play more central characters, people that we can grow to learn, grow to love and feel for, because I think that's what movies do. They let you inside the heart of your lead characters. And you just can't help but to love them, you know?
Irish Examiner
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Tom Cruise: It takes decades to prepare for Mission: Impossible stunts
Film star Tom Cruise has said it takes 'decades' to prepare for extreme Mission: Impossible stunts. Speaking at the global premiere for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning in London, the actor said he wants his stunts to engage his audiences emotionally, and does not want people to 'just watch the movie'. Cruise, who has become known for performing extreme stunts in the franchise, including scaling Dubai's Burj Khalifa skyscraper and riding a motorcycle off the edge of a cliff, returns for the eighth instalment as Ethan Hunt, a highly skilled agent who works for the Impossible Missions Force (IMF). Speaking about how he prepares for his stunts, Cruise told the PA news agency: 'I have to tell you, look, it takes years, decades to be able to prepare for something because I've been flying aeroplanes and studying aerial photography for decades. 'I learn when I'm shooting something. I learn a little bit and I keep trying to expand upon that knowledge.' Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, the new film sees Cruise hanging off a plane, jumping off buildings and underwater in a submarine sequence. He added: 'So, aerial sequence all the way back to 40 years ago, and now I fly aerobatics. I fly aerobatic jets, helicopters. I fly everything. 'I'm learning these skills and then I'm applying it to cinema. So it's also just understanding the aircraft, the camera, what kind of cameras can we have? 'How's the aircraft going to behave with that camera? How am I going to create motion in space that will create an emotional reaction with the audience. Tom Cruise poses on top of a biplane at Leicester Square Gardens in London (Ian West/PA) 'I want that emotional engagement, I don't want you just watch the movie. I want you to experience it. So that's a lot of physical, mental, but a lot of other things, technical things, that go into developing something like this. 'There's a lot of studying a lot of learning. 'I don't ever coast through anything. I want the challenge and I see beauty and privilege in my art form that I get to do, like the underwater sequence, the amount of engineering that I have to study and learn, and many, many layers of skill involved.' The new film sees Ethan and his IMF team take on the Entity, an advanced, self-aware artificial intelligence (AI) first introduced in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part I, which now plans to destroy the world by hacking into countries' nuclear arsenals. At the start of each film, Ethan is offered the choice to accept a new, high-risk mission, putting his life on the line to stop crime and hostile forces. Cast and crew attend the global premiere for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning at Leicester Square Gardens (Ian West/PA) Speaking about the power of choice, Cruise added: 'It is the heart of Mission (Impossible). Should you choose to accept the very first mission? It is a choice of that individual. So it is inherent. 'That's one of the things that I loved about the Mission: Impossible franchise. They don't just say, this is your mission and you have to do it. It's like should you choose to accept? So there's personal responsibility. 'All of us, whether we realise it or not, we're making choices, even to not do something or not take responsibility for something. 'I think that adds a whole other emotional layer to the characters and each one as you're going through it, and how we introduce these characters again, you're seeing each of them making a choice. 'Those choices build society, build cultures. We all have that.' Tom Cruise poses at the premiere at Leicester Square Gardens (Ian West/PA) Throughout the franchise Ethan is joined by expert hacker Luther Stickell, played by Ving Rhames, who is the only other character aside from Cruise, to appear in every Mission: Impossible film. Hot Fuzz star Simon Pegg also returns to play field agent Benji Dunn, alongside thief turned agent, Grace, played by Hayley Atwell. Newcomers to the franchise include Ted Lasso's Hannah Waddingham, who plays Admiral Neely, and Severance star Tramell Tillman who plays submarine commander, Captain Bledsoe. One of the scenes in the film sees Cruise attempt to move through a submarine that has crashed and begins to rotate underwater from the weight of the water that is being let in. Speaking about the stunt, Director McQuarrie said: 'It took two and a half years to build that set. It's a 360 degree rotating, 1000 tonne, steel, submersible gimbal and an 8.5 million litre tank, all of which had to be built from scratch. Director Chris McQuarrie and star Tom Cruise at the global premiere in London (Ian West/PA) 'It was all being built behind my trailer. So every day when I came to work, I was just watching it grow. And you can't plan what you're going to shoot in there, because we understand from having done so many of these sequences, the physics just hits you in the face, and whatever you thought you were going to do, that goes right out the window. 'So, we had a plan, and knew that plan wasn't going to happen. And it wasn't until we got in the tank that we knew what the sequence was going to be.' Aside from all the action, the film is also about 'our hope for humanity' McQuarrie said. He added: 'The story was was just people connecting with other people and remaining connected and not losing their connection. And that that's what you feel emotionally in the story. 'It's less about me saying bad technology and more about wanting to remind people what life is really all about, and what really connects us is not technology, but emotions. 'It's about our hope for humanity. It's about hope for and our belief in the ultimate goodness.' Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning will be in cinemas in the UK on May 21.
The Onion
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Onion
What To Know About ‘Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning'
Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning , the eighth installment in the series, is expected to be another box-office smash. The Onion shares everything you need to know about the film. Q: Who is directing? A: Christopher McQuarrie with a gun pointed at his head by Tom Cruise. Q: What stunts does Tom Cruise pull off in this one? A: He manages to deliver several monologues about a computer villain called 'the Entity' while maintaining a straight face. Q: Isn't Tom Cruise a Scientologist? A: No. He's Impossible Missions Force agent Ethan Hunt. Q: Who is the movie for? A. The Final Reckoning is great for everyone, whether you're a male age 18 to 24 or a male age 25 to 40. Q: What's the mission this time? A: To make $800 million at the box office. Q: Why did the film have such a high budget? A: McQuarrie insisted on using real innocent victims for each explosion. Q: Is Clark Gable in it? A: No, Clark Gable unfortunately continues to be dead. Q: What new vehicle have they decided to stage an elaborate chase sequence with? A: Let's just say that if fans aren't ready for a recumbent bicycle, then they better get ready. Q: Should I ask Sara if she wants to go see it with me? A: Yes. She might say no, but the pain of rejection will be nothing compared to the pain of not knowing. Q: Is this the last Mission: Impossible film? A: It's the last one with non-CGI Tom Cruise. Q: What's Tom Cruise's next project? A: Based on probability, dying in a helicopter crash.
Black America Web
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
It's Almost Showtime: Angela Bassett, Porsha Williams, Jacob Latimore & Many More Attend Special Atlanta Screening Of ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning'
Source: Paras Griffin / Getty We're less than 24 hours away from the release of the action spy film Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Last night (May 21st), Atlanta audiences gathered for an exclusive, high-stakes red carpet screening of the film. The event was nothing short of a covert operation, bringing together a top-secret mix of celebs, athletes, influencers, media and tastemakers. Film star Angela Bassett was in attendance along with notable attendees Porsha Williams, Jacob Latimore, Brandee Evans, Dr. Heavenly Kimes, Egypt Sherrod, Demetria McKinney and more. Tom Cruise once again returns to star in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which is the direct sequel to 2023's Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. In the previous film, Ethan Hunt and his IMF (Impossible Missions Force) team embarked on their most dangerous mission yet: Trying to track down a terrifying new weapon (named The Entity) that threatens all of humanity before it fell 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 began. As chaos and confusion ensued through out, Dead Reckoning Part One ended with Ethan finding out that the true location of The Entity's core was on a sunken Russian submarine, setting the stage for The Final Reckoning. In addition to Cruise, the film also stars Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Henry Czerny, Mariela Garriga, Holt McCallany, Janet McTeer, Nick Offerman, Hannah Waddingham, Tramell Tillman, Shea Whigham, Greg Tarzan Davis, Charles Parnell, Mark Gatiss, Rolf Saxon, Lucy Tulugarjuk and Angela Bassett. Following his work on the previous three films, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Mission: Impossible – Fallout and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Christopher McQuarrie returns as the director of the film. McQuarrie and Erik Jendresen wrote the film based on the television series created by Bruce Geller. On top of their other duties, McQuarrie and Tom Cruise produced the film while David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Tommy Gormley, Chris Brock and Susan E. Novick served as executive producers. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is only in theaters, Dolby Cinema, premium large formats and IMAX tomorrow! Below, check out the film's official trailer and some photos from the special star-studded Atlanta screening. It's Almost Showtime: Angela Bassett, Porsha Williams, Jacob Latimore & Many More Attend Special Atlanta Screening Of 'Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning' was originally published on Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Source:Getty Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Tom's Guide
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
All 8 'Mission: Impossible' movies, ranked
For 30 years, Tom Cruise has risked his life to entertain the masses in the 'Mission: Impossible" movies. Based on the TV series, 'Mission: Impossible' stars Cruise as Ethan Hunt, the highly skilled operative who works for the Impossible Missions Force (IMF) team. What started as an espionage thriller eventually turned into an action spectacle, as Cruise became Hollywood's Daredevil and its most important movie star. The eighth film in the franchise, 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning,' is billed as Cruise's swan song. While the 'Top Gun' star will likely return to the franchise one day, 'The Final Reckoning' feels like the end of an era. In honor of the film's release, we ranked every "Mission: Impossible" movie from worst to best. After the success of 'Mission: Impossible,' the franchise recruited Hong Kong legend John Woo to direct the sequel, 'Mission: Impossible 2.' Woo injected his signature hallmarks, including slow motion, elaborate fight choreography, and white doves. 'Mission: Impossible 2' is undoubtedly a 'John Woo movie,' but that doesn't make it a good entry within the franchise. The nonsensical plot revolves around Ethan and his team racing to stop rogue IMF agent Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott) from unleashing a virus onto the world and profiting off the cure. The motorcycle jump scene is worth rewatching this sequel, but it's unquestionably the worst movie of the franchise. Watch on Paramount Plus Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. If this list ranked 'Mission: Impossible' villains, Philip Seymour Hoffman's Owen Davian would be at the top, full stop. Davian is the ruthless arms dealer who pushes Ethan to his absolute limit. Davian is after the Rabbit's Foot, a biologically hazardous weapon that reappears in 'The Final Reckoning.' Davian will do anything to find it, even if that means kidnapping Ethan's fiancée, Julia Meade (Michelle Monaghan). Much of the criticism surrounding 'Mission: Impossible 3' revolves around first-time feature director J.J. Abrams and how the movie feels like an extended episode of 'Alias.' That's a bit harsh. Cruise doesn't do anything that resembles television, and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge is not something you'll find on ABC. Imagine if David Fincher hadn't dropped out as the director. Davian would've put Ethan into the torture chamber even more. Watch on Paramount Plus In 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning,' Ethan needs you to trust him one last time. After the events of the previous film, Ethan has the cruciform key in his possession. Now, he must find the Sevastopol and destroy the Entity. Your temperature may vary on 'The Final Reckoning' depending on your propensity for nostalgia. The first act plays like a greatest hits album, with several flashbacks and callbacks to previous movies. Some viewers might be turned off by this approach. If you hang in there, you'll be rewarded with two of the best action set pieces of the franchise, including a jaw-dropping airplane sequence. 'Mission: Impossible' will eventually return with or without Cruise. If this is the end, it was one hell of a ride. This is the one where Ethan battles AI. 'Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning' pits Ethan and his team against a technological enemy known as The Entity, the sentient AI located on the Russian submarine, Sevastopol, at the bottom of the Bering Sea. Whoever controls the Entity will become the most powerful person in the world. Ethan can't let that happen, so he sets out to find and destroy it before it gets into the wrong hands. 'Dead Reckoning' is the first film where Ethan losing becomes a real possibility, a nice change from the happy endings of the previous entries. Hayley Atwell is a welcome addition to the franchise as Grace, the charismatic thief who becomes an ally to Ethan. The set pieces in the Italian streets and on the train are genuinely spectacular, highlighted by Cruise's motorcycle jump off the cliff. The only knock against 'Dead Reckoning' is that it ends on a cliffhanger. Watch on Paramount Plus 'Ghost Protocol' might be the most important entry in the franchise. After the lukewarm reception to 'Mission: Impossible 3,' 'Ghost Protocol' zeroed in on the strengths of the franchise: practical stunts, a charismatic team and Cruise being Cruise. The scope, set pieces, and stakes were all raised in 'Ghost Protocol.' After being blamed for the bombing of the Kremlin, Ethan goes off the grid and teams up with other IMF fugitives to clear the agency's name. This is Simon Pegg's breakout movie in the franchise, as Benji becomes Ethan's most important ally besides Luther (Ving Rhames). 'Ghost Protocol' also marks the introduction of Christopher McQuarrie, who completed uncredited rewrites on the script. Cruise also climbed the tallest building in the world, so there's that, too. Watch on Paramount Plus Speaking of McQuarrie, the writer-director made his official introduction to the franchise in 'Rogue Nation.' With the IMF forced to assimilate into the CIA, Ethan goes, well, rogue to investigate the Syndicate, a powerful organization featuring former covert operatives who wish to tip the scales of global power. 'Rogue Nation' marks the first appearance of Rebecca Ferguson's Ilsa Faust, the disavowed MI6 agent who becomes the most important female character of the franchise. While most of the women in the franchise need saving, Ilsa is Ethan's equal, who even gets the upper hand on the IMF agent. 'Rogue Nation' takes the formula of 'Ghost Protocol' — set pieces and scope — and combines it with more espionage from earlier entries. The result is a thrilling spy adventure that paves the way for the No. 1 movie on this list. Watch on Paramount Plus All great things start somewhere. 'Mission: Impossible' set the stage for what would become one of the best action franchises in Hollywood. Brian De Palma's movie is the most grounded of the franchise and the one that relies heavily on espionage tropes: deceit, betrayal and deception. After a brilliant swerve in the first act, Ethan (Tom Cruise) goes on the run after the murder of his mentor, Jim Phelps (Jon Voight). To prove his innocence, Ethan enlists the help of IMF agent Claire Phelps (Emmanuelle Béart), tech wizard Luther Stickell, and helicopter pilot Franz Krieger (Jean Reno) to steal a confidential file inside CIA headquarters. Cruise hanging from a wire as he hacks into a computer will go down as the most important moment of the franchise. Just make sure not to drop any knives while watching. Watch on Paramount Plus How many franchises can say that the sixth film is their magnum opus? 'Mission: Impossible — Fallout' is the greatest action thriller of the eight entries. You know a movie is great when multiple action sequences — including the bathroom fight, halo jump, and helicopter chase — have legitimate claims for best of the series. Ethan and Co. are after arms dealer John Lark, who plans to set off three nuclear bombs around the world. Ethan must form a reluctant partnership with the CIA's August Walker (Henry Cavill), whose own agenda conflicts with the IMF. It's a movie of one-upmanship, moving from one unfathomable sequence to the next. 'Mission: Impossible — Fallout' won't be surpassed as the franchise's top movie anytime soon. Watch on Paramount Plus
