Tom Cruise heralded the effective conclusion of the Mission: Impossible film franchise last year, at least his direct involvement with it.
The actor, 63, revealed that 2025's Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning would be his final turn as Ethan Hunt after eight films in the series.
However, after picking up a few trophies at the Saturn Awards, honoring the best in genre filmmaking, the night of Sunday, March 8, Tom is teasing that there might just be more to the franchise than fans are expecting.
© Getty Images"Many more"
At the 53rd Saturn Awards in Los Angeles, Tom made a rare appearance to accept his win for Best Actor in a Film, playing Ethan Hunt for the eighth time in The Final Reckoning, as well as the film's victory in Best Action/Adventure Film.
The star received a standing ovation as he made his way to the stage to accept his prize for the former, thanking the audience for their appreciation and expressing his gratitude to director and friend Christopher McQuarrie.
"Thank you McQ for trying to kill me so many times for all these years. I appreciate it," he joked. He continued: "I feel so privileged to be able to do what I do. It's pretty obvious that I love movies, I love them. And I've loved making them even more. And I love the audience for allowing me to still do it."
As for the future of Mission: Impossible, Tom simply teased there's "many more to come," although didn't elaborate on his own involvement with the franchise. He later returned to the stage to present Christopher with the Visionary Award.
The future of the franchise
While the director has previously indicated that he is interested in taking the franchise forward, Tom has remained ambivalent, instead treating the last film as his final turn.
© Paramount Pictures"Just let us show the movie tonight," he told People at The Final Reckoning's premiere back in May of 2025. "This is like 30 years culmination of this, and I think that this is – I'd rather just people see it and enjoy."
"We've had an amazing time doing it and it's been a lot of fun and [I] just want you all to enjoy it, enjoy this and know everything – the culmination has come to this moment right now and it's been a lot of fun."
© Getty ImagesMore from the Saturn Awards
Tom and Mission: Impossible weren't the only ones to pick up multiple trophies last night, though. Another franchise, in particular, found resounding success – James Cameron and Avatar: Fire and Ash.
The third installment in the Avatar series picked up Best Science Fiction Film, Best Film Direction, Best Film Screenwriting, Best Young Performer in a Film (for Jack Champion), and Best Film Visual/Special Effects.
© Getty ImagesOther winners included Elle Fanning for her turn in Predator: Badlands, Sigourney Weaver in Dust Bunny, and the films Frankenstein, Sinners, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle in their respective genre categories.
