Tom Cruise is known for creating films aimed at reaching the broadest audience possible, prioritizing mainstream appeal over niche preferences. His freedom from studio constraints and creative interference allows him to shape his projects as he sees fit, although this method has not always yielded favorable results, as seen in titles like The Mummy. Despite this, Cruise maintains an open and collaborative attitude with many filmmakers and actors he has worked alongside, fostering an environment welcoming new ideas and perspectives.
Conflict with Original Mission: Impossible TV Cast
The Mission: Impossible film series, while a massive box office success with nearly $5 billion earned worldwide, has faced criticism from several members of the original TV show’s cast. The eight-film franchise, while sharing only a loose connection to the seven-season series beyond the IMF organization and iconic theme music, drew ire because of significant deviations in characters and tone. Peter Graves, who portrayed Jim Phelps on the original series, reacted strongly to the depiction of Phelps as a traitor in the first film directed by Brian De Palma.
I am sorry that they chose to call him Phelps,
Graves said.
They could have solved that very easily by either having me in a scene in the very beginning, or reading a telegram from me saying, ‘Hey boys, I’m retired, gone to Hawaii. Thank you, goodbye, you take over now.’
Reactions from Other Original Cast Members
Martin Landau, who starred as Rollin Hand, also expressed dissatisfaction with the film’s handling of original characters, particularly regarding the drastic fate of the team early in the film. Speaking to MTV, he revealed that this decision discouraged him from participating in any cameo role.
Landau stated, I was against that, and he added,
Why volunteer to essentially have our characters commit suicide? I passed on it. I said, ‘It’s crazy to do this’. The script wasn’t that good either!
Barbara Bain, known as Cinnamon Carter during the show’s first two seasons, dismissed the films entirely, refusing to watch them and criticizing the franchise’s focus on Tom Cruise’s high-risk stunts rather than teamwork. She described the movies as
a one-man thing, not a team,
and commented that a guest role in the franchise
wasn’t of interest to me one way or the other.
The Broader Impact of the Discontent
While the original cast’s dissatisfaction highlights a divide between the TV series’ legacy and the film franchise’s approach, the Mission: Impossible movies continue to thrive, with entries like Brad Bird’s Ghost Protocol and Christopher McQuarrie’s Rogue Nation and Fallout earning acclaim as some of the most exciting action films in recent decades. The rift between the original cast members and Tom Cruise’s vision underscores tensions between respecting source material and catering to contemporary blockbuster audiences. Though the criticisms from Peter Graves, Martin Landau, and Barbara Bain raised questions about the direction of the franchise, the films’ commercial and critical success suggests that Cruise’s priorities in filmmaking continue to resonate with modern viewers.
