Tom Cruise Honors Val Kilmer at CinemaCon Before Debuting New Mission: Impossible Footage
At CinemaCon, Tom Cruise captivated audiences with an exhilarating debut of new footage from Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning. However, the high-energy moment was punctuated by a heartfelt tribute to his late friend and co-star, Val Kilmer, who passed away earlier this week.
“I’d like to honor a dear friend of mine, Val Kilmer for a moment,” Cruise stated, eliciting applause from the audience. “I can’t tell you how much I admired his work,” he added, expressing his gratitude for Kilmer’s contribution to the film industry and their collaboration in Top Gun: Maverick.
Cruise encouraged a moment of silence, acknowledging Kilmer’s impactful legacy: “If we just all take a moment to remember the wonderful times we had with him.” Conclusively, he expressed, “I wish you well on your next journey.”
Introduction of New Footage and Recognition of Christopher McQuarrie
As one of the remaining major movie stars, Cruise traveled to Las Vegas to take part in the Paramount and Skydance presentation, addressing a vast audience of cinema owners along The Strip. He introduced the full trailer for Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning and presented one of CinemaCon’s top honors to his frequent collaborator and director, Christopher McQuarrie.
During his speech, Cruise praised McQuarrie for his relentless dedication to the franchise, managing to continue its evolution despite challenges from the pandemic and strikes within the Hollywood industry. “This man forged through it all and was able to create epic adventures for global audiences,” said Cruise, likening him to legendary producer Irving Thalberg.
“Tom saw the potential for the director that’s standing here, holding this award right now,” McQuarrie responded when accepting the accolade. He reflected on his transformation from a top screenwriter to a sought-after director, thanks to films like Jack Reacher (2012) and Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation (2015), crediting Cruise’s trust and vision.
Exciting Trailer and Future Film Prospects
The newly released trailer showcases Cruise’s thrilling action scenes as field agent Ethan Hunt, culminating in a poignant message: “I need you to trust me, one last time,” a statement that resonates deeply as it signals his farewell to the beloved character.
Known for his fervent support of cinema, Cruise regularly attends CinemaCon, although he has missed a few editions due to filming schedules. In 2018, he made an appearance to promote Mission: Impossible — Fallout and to receive the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneer of the Year award.
Challenges Ahead for the Franchise
Cruise and McQuarrie face significant expectations with this upcoming release, set to hit theaters over Memorial Day weekend. Initially planned as the concluding installment in a two-part series following Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning, the sequel’s trajectory changed when the original film underperformed at the box office, grossing $571 million globally.
Industry analysts speculate that the movie suffered due to the phenomenon dubbed the “Barbenheimer effect,”where competing releases, such as Barbie and Oppenheimer, significantly impacted audience turnout. Cruise encouraged viewers to support all films but likely did not anticipate the ramifications for his franchise.
In response to the softer than expected box office debut, production for the second part, formerly titled Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part Two, was delayed for substantial reworking of the storyline. In December 2024, Cruise revealed the film’s new official title and poster, sharing on Instagram, “Every choice has led to this.”
Returning as Ethan Hunt, Cruise will be joined by a stellar cast that includes Henry Czerny, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Pom Klementieff, Vanessa Kirby, along with newcomers Hannah Waddingham, Nick Offerman, Katy O’Brian, and Tramell Tillman.
The Future of the Franchise
Produced by Cruise and McQuarrie for Paramount and David Ellison’s Skydance Entertainment, discussions regarding federal approval for the acquisition of Paramount are ongoing. While Cruise has expressed a desire to continue the Mission: Impossible series into his 80s, recent reports indicate that Paramount aims to present the eighth film as the franchise’s final entry to galvanize interest among audiences. Additionally, there are rumors of a possible appearance at the Cannes Film Festival in early May.