“He’s just looking at a gravestone”: Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible 7 Director Almost Brought Back Alec Baldwin for a Critical Scene That Was Sadly Deleted

Tom Cruise’s recent entry, Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One, has been making waves in Hollywood. The movie is deemed one of the standout entries in the renowned spy thriller series, with a gripping storyline topped with high-octane action sequences. However, the director, Christopher McQuarrie, initially considered opening the film with a flashback of Alan Hunley.

Christopher McQuarrie considered a flashback scene with Alec Baldwin in MI7

Director Christopher McQuarrie considered an alternate beginning for Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, with a flashback featuring Alec Baldwin’s Alan Hunley. He was considered to be placed in a scene with Ethan Hunt, exploring deep into the relationship between the two characters, McQuarrie revealed in the Empire Spoiler Specials podcast.

Although Hunley died during the events of Mission: Impossible: Fallout, McQuarrie explains that the Dead Reckoning Part One almost began with the flashback scene of Alan Hunley with Ethan Hunt,

“Berlin had been calling our name. There was originally an opening of this movie that began with Tom and Alec Baldwin walking along the Berlin Wall. They’re walking along the wall and you slowly realize it’s the Berlin Wall. And it’s Alec Baldwin talking to Ethan about his life as a spy, and how he became a spy”.

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In the podcast, the director explained that he planned to edit the scenes as follows, Tom Cruise and Baldwin are walking along the Berlin Wall, where Baldwin talks to Ethan Hunt about his life and how he became a spy. McQuarrie continues, the particular scene, “You realize it’s him counseling Ethan”. But the scene was to provide a glimpse into the past relationship that Ethan Hunt had with Hunley.

Then it cuts directly to Ethan Hunt standing in front of Hunley’s grave, reinforcing the notion that Hunley’s spirit lies in the memory of Ethan “was a very, very early idea for the story, something I was keenly interested in.”

Ethan Hunt’s and Alan Hunley’s mutual respect amidst unclear past

Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One follows the story of Ethan Hunt’s mission to destroy the powerful rogue AI known as the Entity. He’s joined by his trusty team of companions, including Simon Pegg’s Benji, Rebecca Ferguson’s Ilsa, and Ving Rhames’ Luther.

Baldwin made his first appearance in 2015’s Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. He played the director of the CIA, who exerted more control over Ethan Hunt’s team as secretary of the IMF until he was killed by Henry Cavill’s August Walker, ultimately dying right in front of Hunt. Though the nature of their relationship is unclear, the final moment indicates both had a great deal of respect for each other.

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Christopher McQuarrie might explore Hunley’s flashback in MI7 sequel

Other than Ethan Hunt’s death in the Mission: Impossible movies, the franchise traditionally doesn’t bring back characters. While there have been too many characters’ deaths, the franchise chose to make them permanent. So McQuarrie’s recent comments suggest that flashback is an effective way of bringing Hunley back.

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