There are many indications that “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” and the already announced and (partially) filmed sequel “Dead Reckoning Part Two” are something like the grand finale of the “M:I” series. This is not only supported by the numerous references to the previous films in the series, such as an action scene on a train as in the first “Mission: Impossible”. It also goes back even further in time as we first learn a bit about how Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) got into the Impossible Mission Force (IMF) in the first place.
Do you already know Gabriel and Marie?
Key roles are played by “Dead Reckoning” villain Gabriel (Esai Morales) and a woman named Marie (Mariela Garriga), who appears in flashbacks alongside a much younger Ethan Hunt.
Although this scene looks like it’s from one of the previous Mission: Impossible movies: Gabriel, Marie and their connection to Ethan Hunt were only invented for Dead Reckoning Part One. The two did not appear in any of the previous films. You didn’t miss or forget anything!
Ethan, Gabriel and the Entity
So far there is no more information about Gabriel, Marie and Ethan than what we learn in Dead Reckoning: Ethan has a criminal past, he and Gabriel knew each other back then and Marie was important to Ethan, probably because of a family or romantic relationship. Gabriel killed Marie to get Ethan as he watched helplessly.
Gabriel then disappeared, while Ethan, who was found at the crime scene, left his life of crime behind and joined the IMF – as an alternative to life imprisonment, but probably also hoping to get revenge on Gabriel at a point.
Gabriel, meanwhile, finally decided to work for the entity. So, of course, it’s no wonder that the two men instantly recognize each other many years later – because Gabriel was apparently sent out by the entity on purpose to find Ethan Hunt. The powerful AI calculated that Hunt plays an important role in getting the two missing pieces of the key – which ends up going wrong, at least from the entity’s point of view.
More flashbacks in Dead Reckoning Part 2?
How it came about that Gabriel entrusted himself to the entity, whether the AI chose him or maybe the other way around, we can find out in “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two” – or maybe Gabriel’s career will be deliberately left in the dark.
I’m pretty sure it wasn’t the last time we saw Gabriel hanging out with Marie and Ethan in the past. We are convinced: the previous flashbacks should have been just the tip of the iceberg. That would also fit the idea that apparently is behind the “Dead Reckoning” double: namely combining a return to the previous films with new insights into Ethan’s past.
“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 2” will be released in German cinemas on June 27, 2024.