LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: It’s been a while since the ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise has left the old school numbering system for sequels behind. Since the third part was released back in 2006, the franchise has picked up names to support and help viewers envision the story before they flock to the theatres. A similar trend has been adopted by Christopher McQuarrie since he started directing the 'Mission: Impossible' films in 2015. A title should give just enough information about the movie but still keep the audience guessing about the rest of the tale.
‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning’ does just that and director Christopher McQuarrie has explained the reason behind this bombastic yet intriguing title. The seventh installment in the franchise is said to be the most ambitious and daring endeavor that Tom Cruise has ever taken on. Stunts such as driving off from a cliff, filming fight sequences on a train and parachuting into chaos have elevated the upcoming film to a new level. The director McQuarrie has revealed that the title ‘Dead Reckoning’ is an indication of things emerging from Ethan Hunt’s (Tom Cruise) past. But what does the title truly mean?
What does ‘Dead Reckoning' mean?
McQuarrie spoke about all the dangers that Ethan Hunt will face in the upcoming film. For him, the danger to Tom Cruise’s character has never been greater. In an interview with Empire magazine, McQuarrie threw light on the meaning of the film’s bizarre title. “‘Dead reckoning’ is a navigational term. It means you’re picking a course based solely on your last known position and that becomes quite the metaphor not only for Ethan, but several characters.” The director further added that Ethan’s past will continue to haunt him, stating, "There are many things emerging from Ethan’s past.”
The 'Mission: Impossible' films are known to up the ante every time they bless our screens. ‘Dead Reckoning’ is not an exception but a grand addition to that long-standing tradition and McQuarrie wants the two-part adventure extravaganza to be a memorable one. “The first thing we knew was that if it’s gonna be a big two-part adventure, it’s got to be epic. It’s going to have to be the installment that swallows the rest of the franchise whole. There’s just not another way to do it.” The adventures of Ethan Hunt are ready to take everyone by storm.
How did Tom Cruise prepare for his stunts?
The 61-year-old action star completed over 500 skydives and 13,000 motocross jumps to prepare himself to perform the death-defying cliff jump in ‘Dead Reckoning’. In the late-night talk show with Jimmy Kimmel, Cruise revealed that they shot him riding the motorcycle off the cliff eight times and stated that he only had “six seconds to open the parachute.” Cruise's unwavering dedication to bringing the grandest of stunts to life is unmatched and continues to inspire and awe moviegoers across the globe.
‘Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One’ hits US theaters on July 12, 2023.
