The Fall Guy Writer Would Have Royally Pissed Off Fans With His Mission: Impossible Idea That Tom Cruise Thankfully Didn’t Allow
British screenwriter Drew Pearce is popular in the action genre in the film industry. The writer, who just contributed in The Fall Guy, is well known in the movie world for writing in movies like Iron Man 3, Hobbs and Shaw, and many other films. Among his most notable contributions is his work on Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, where Pearce wrote the story of the Tom Cruise movie.
Pearce managed to incorporate both fast-paced action sequences and character growth into his Impossible series, which was well-received by viewers. His collaboration with Cruise was one of the highest achievements of his career so far. However, his one decision in Rogue Nation could have redirected the entire franchise in a different direction.
Drew Pearce Wanted to Kill Benji in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation
While working on Rogue Nation, Pearce found himself struggling with an idea that would have divided the Mission: Impossible fan base. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the writer admitted that he had initially planned to kill none other than Benji Dunn, played by Simon Pegg. He said,
“Weirdly, killing Benji was actually something I debated at the beginning of Rogue Nation. Simon Pegg, if you’re reading, I apologize, but you are the easiest person to fridge in a weird way, because you have one of the longest relationships with Ethan. But I don’t think there’s a political repercussion for fridging him. It’s just an emotional one, which is what you want.”
Throughout the years, Benji has developed a long-term relationship with Ethan Hunt and has also become a fan favorite. This was the reason why Pearce chose to go this far, to have a strong impact on the audience.
His demise would have left the audience deeply shocked. However, Tom Cruise and the makers didn’t want to use this angle and later went on to kill Rebecca Ferguson’s Ilsa Faust in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.
Even Benji Is Not Safe in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two
In the interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Pearce acknowledged Ferguson’s performance in Dune and also talked about the loss of her character in Mission: Impossible movies. He said,
“In a weird way, she didn’t off of Rogue, but listen, it’s the brave move in Dead Reckoning. You’re like, ‘F-ck, I’m going to miss her.'”
However, in a 2023 interview with Cinemablend, Simon Pegg talked about the possibility of the death of Benji in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two. Pegg talked about the relationship he has developed with Benji since his first appearance in 2006. He said,
“As I think Luther says, we don’t matter as much as the mission, and any of us at any time could face the end. And if that happened, I’d be sad. You know I’ve lived with Benji for like… I mean, wait, who’s to say it doesn’t happen?”
“But I would be sad. He’s been in my life for 17 years. I’ve watched him, I’ve been him, growing up, becoming an older, more mature agent, and you know, they live a sort of tragic life in a way.”
As Pegg himself mentioned, no one is really safe as Ethan Hunt’s missions get wilder than ever with every movie. However, as the Mission: Impossible series continues, how the writers and filmmakers strike a balance between daring storytelling choices and audience approval will be a challenge.
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning is now streaming on Paramount+.
