Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Pokemon Winds and Waves
  • New Games for 2026
  • Submit your game clips
  • GDC
Don't miss these
Leon frowns in the care center in Resident Evil Requiem
Horror Movies Resident Evil director Zach Cregger proves he's the right person for the job after beating Requiem twice already
Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace in Project Hail Mary
Sci-Fi Movies Project Hail Mary review: "Large scale sci-fi with tons of heart"
A group of people holding crates and walking through a Stargate during an episode of the TV show Stargate Atlantis.
Sci-Fi Shows Stargate: Everything we know about Amazon's new Stargate series
Dune 2
Movies Upcoming movies: The most exciting new movies coming in 2026 and beyond
Reacher season 2
Action Shows Reacher season 4 release date speculation, cast, plot, and everything we know so far about the Prime Video show's return
Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby riding a horse in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
Crime Shows Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man director explains how the Netflix movie differs from the show
Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace in Project Hail Mary
Sci-Fi Movies Project Hail Mary debuts to near-perfect 96% Rotten Tomatoes score
Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone in The Godfather.
Streaming Services The 20 best movies on Paramount Plus to watch right now
Scarlett Johansson as DeeAnna Moran in Hail, Caesar!
Streaming Services 3 new to Prime Video movies you need to watch this weekend (March 13–March 15)
(L to R) Steven Yeun as Detective Mike Ro, Matt Damon as Lieutenant Dane Dumars, Ben Affleck as Detective Sergeant J.D. Byrne, and Kyle Chandler as DEA Agent Mateo 'Matty' Nix in The Rip.
Action Movies The 25 best Netflix action movies to watch right now
Ghostface in Scream 7
Horror Movies Scream 7 review: "Never as sharp as the series' best, but still has a few neat tricks up its billowing sleeve"
Will Smith as Dr. Robert Neville in I Am Legend
Action Movies I Am Legend 2 release date speculation, cast, plot, trailer, and everything we know about the upcoming horror sequel
Tom Holland as Peter Parker unmasked and in the middle of a fight during a scene in Spider-Man: No Way Home
Marvel Movies Spider-Man 4 release date, cast, leaks and theories, and everything else we know about the Marvel movie
In Hitman World of Assassination, Agent 47 sits at the departure gate in an airport during the loading screen
Roguelike Games After weeks spent locked into Hitman's Freelancer mode, I realize there's one vital thing 007 First Light needs to learn
A screenshot of James Bond in 007 First Light's reveal trailer.
Games 007 First Light: Everything we know so far about IO Interactive's new Bond game
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies

Get the full debrief on Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation

Features
By sfx published 21 July 2015

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Your sequel, should you choose to accept it...

Your sequel, should you choose to accept it...

With Rogue Nation only a few weeks away, it's time to brief yourself for what you can expect on your mission to the local cinema. Each Mission: Impossible film has come with a new director and the fifth one, Rogue Nation, is no exception. This time its Christopher McQuarrie, who has previously worked with Tom Cruise on Valkyrie, Jack Reacher and Edge Of Tomorrow. Setting out his vision for the film earlier this year, he said that, while still bringing the action, the feeling will be more like an episode of the 60s TV show, shot with an old school approach.

Rogue Nation will carry on from the ending of Ghost Protocol, where Ethan was alerted to a shady organisation called the Syndicate. Known in the original series for playing more of a domestic mob role (it was the 60s, after all), Rogue Nation will cast them as Mission: Impossibles SPECTRE: a near-mythical anti-IMF of global assassins and rogue operatives. Naturally, they must be taken down. Here's what we know about how it'll all go down...

Click here for more excellent SFX articles. Or maybe you want to take advantage of some great offers on magazine subscriptions? You can find them here.

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
Disband and conquer

Disband and conquer

Little is known about the elusive leader of the Syndicate, who is the main antagonist of Rogue Nation. The only information declassified so far is that hes played by Sean Harris, aka the ginger one from Prometheus. Whoever he is, lets hope hes more like Philip Seymour Hoffmans Owen Davian in M:I III than whatever-his-name-was from Ghost Protocol.

Given that theres an anti-IMF knocking around, it seems like mighty poor timing to disband the real thing. But thats what happens in Rogue Nation, courtesy of Alec Baldwins hostile head of the CIA, who you can probably bet on being a triple agent or something. This, yet again, leaves Ethan and co going rogue and requiring the help of another new cast member: Rebecca Ferguson (The White Queen, Hercules), who plays mysterious badass Ilsa Faust. Again, dont be surprised when she rips off her face to reveal that shes really Alec Baldwin.

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
The boys are back in town

The boys are back in town

The gang are back! Well, the men are. Reprising their roles are Jeremy Renner as IMF agent William Brandt, Simon Pegg as quasi-Q Benji Dunn and Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell, the hacker whos been in every Mission: Impossible film so far. Apparently not returning, however, is Ghost Protocols Paula Patton, who joins the franchises list of women to have only appeared in one film. McQuarrie has said that he approached Patton and M:I IIIs Maggie Q to appear in Rogue Nation but both were unavailable.

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
Plane sailing

Plane sailing

Whether its scaling a building in Dubai or jumping up and down on Oprahs sofa, Tom Cruise is not afraid of outlandish stunts. And as you may have spied in the trailer, Rogue Nation features one of his biggest yet: hanging off an Airbus A400M aircraft being flown 5,000 feet above the English countryside. According to Cruise in an interview with Yahoo, its undoubtedly the most dangerous thing [Ive] ever done. However, McQuarrie teases that this death-defying stunt is actually one of two incredibly physically punishing things featured in the film.

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
London calling

London calling

It wouldnt be a spy movie without clocking up some serious air miles. Vienna State Opera, Austria, sees Cruise and Ferguson performing some daring roof-top jumps, while Morocco is where well see Ethan racing an F80 BMW M3. Rogue Nations most dangerous location, though? London where Cruise nearly got hit by a double-decker bus.

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
This feature will self-destruct in five seconds...

This feature will self-destruct in five seconds...

It seems that Christmas has come early, with Rogue Nation hitting cinemas six months before its original release date. The reason why is unknown, but it would be safe to assume that Paramount would like to avoid premiering after Novembers SPECTRE to then compete with the festive force that is Star Wars: The Force Awakens. According to McQuarrie, its put pressure on post-production, saying were always in a hurry, now were in a big fin hurry. Still, coming out as a summer blockbuster is hardly going to compromise box-office security.

Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
sfx
sfx
Social Links Navigation
Magazine

SFX Magazine is the world's number one sci-fi, fantasy, and horror magazine published by Future PLC. Established in 1995, SFX Magazine prides itself on writing for its fans, welcoming geeks, collectors, and aficionados into its readership for over 25 years. Covering films, TV shows, books, comics, games, merch, and more, SFX Magazine is published every month. If you love it, chances are we do too and you'll find it in SFX.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Read more
Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad in Assassin's Creed
Action Shows Netflix's Assassin's Creed show adds Mission: Impossible and Prometheus stars, and we'd put money on one being a Templar
 
 
Riz Ahmed in The Sound of Metal and Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
Sci-Fi Movies Tom Cruise movie Digger is “nothing like that experience I've ever had before” according to Rogue One star Riz Ahmed
 
 
Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick
Comedy Movies Warner Bros. chiefs say Tom Cruise is "extraordinary" in his next movie: "Like nothing you've ever seen"
 
 
A young James Bond smirks in 007 First Light with the GamesRadar+ Big in 2026 branding frame
Action Games 007 First Light will do something no Bond game has done before – slow down: "Players might be surprised"
 
 
Ralph Fiennes as Dr. Kelson in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Horror Movies 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple review: "The wildest and weirdest entry into the franchise yet"
 
 
Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick
Star Wars Movies Tom Cruise got behind the camera to help shoot a lightsaber duel for Star Wars Starfighter
 
 
Latest in Movies
Mortal Kombat movie
Action Movies Mortal Kombat 2 star Lewis Tan responds to new dig from Street Fighter's Cody Rhodes: "Almost spilled my drink laughing"
 
 
Halloween Kills
Horror Movies Halloween star Jamie Lee Curtis says she wouldn't have returned for the Blumhouse sequel if she'd known it was a trilogy
 
 
Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin unmasked in The Mandalorian and Grogu
Star Wars Movies The Mandalorian and Grogu runtime may have been revealed by a UK theater chain listing, but take it with a pinch of salt
 
 
Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps in Zootopia 2
Film Festivals & Awards After missing out KPop Demon Hunters, Disney has made surprising Oscars history with its unlikely losing streak
 
 
Leon frowns in the care center in Resident Evil Requiem
Horror Movies Resident Evil director Zach Cregger proves he's the right person for the job after beating Requiem twice already
 
 
Tim Roth as Beckett reading with his feet on a desk in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
Crime Movies Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man villain Tim Roth starred in The Incredible Hulk to "embarrass" his kids
 
 
Latest in Features
Future Games Show
Games Future Games Show Spring Showcase 2026
 
 
Artwork showing Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, a remake of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, with protagonist Edward Kenway looking out from the side of ship
Assassin's Creed Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced – Everything you need to know about the Assassin's Creed Black Flag remake
 
 
The Talking Flower toy sitting next to its box.
Toys & Collectibles The Super Mario Talking Flower told me the "ocean tastes like tears" but I like this Nintendo toy
 
 
Resident Evil accessories and merch on a forest background
Toys & Collectibles It's been 30 years since we first entered the Spencer Mansion, so I'm building the ultimate Resident Evil starter kit
 
 
A still from Kiki's Delivery Service featuring Kiki and her feline familiar Jiji flying on a broom with some seagulls, with a Big Screen Spotlight logo ini the corner
Anime Movies Kiki's Delivery Service's return to theaters proves we need hand-drawn animation now more than ever
 
 
In Collector's Cove, the collector protagonist who has short brown hair and wears a jumper with cherries on it hugs the Fable Fin companion who wears a witch hat. GamesRadar+'s Indie Spotlight series logo can be seen in the top right-hand corner
Adventure Games If you're feeling Pokemon Pokopia FOMO, this farming adventure lets you explore on the back of a Lapras-like companion
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Nvidia DLSS 5 version of Grace from Resident Evil Requiem
    1
    Bethesda says Nvidia's controversial new DLSS 5 AI filter "will all be under our artists' control, and totally optional for players"
  2. 2
    Daredevil: Born Again season 2 star Matthew Lillard says there's "Cheshire Cat" energy to his new villain, but he doesn't have any scenes with Daredevil
  3. 3
    GTA Wiki editors cite "a reportedly pro-AI CEO," "terrible" ads, and restrictive censorship as they go independent from Fandom
  4. 4
    Bethesda fans are petitioning for The Elder Scrolls 6 to add a tribute to a late TES lore legend: "He helped countless gamers delve deeper into the world of Tamriel"
  5. 5
    The Last of Us season 3 adds Lanterns and The Conjuring stars to cast, including your favorite exorcist Patrick Wilson in a crucial role

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...