The actor, who reprises his role as intelligence agent Jasper Briggs, reveals his request to director Christopher McQuarrie for a specific scene with Tom Cruise.
- Jun 11, 2024
AceShowbiz - In "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One", Shea Whigham reprises his role as intelligence agent Jasper Briggs, who will once again face off against Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt. During the filming of "Dead Reckoning", Whigham approached McQuarrie with a special request for "Mission: Impossible 8".
He recalled, "I said to Christopher McQuarrie on [Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning], 'I don’t want a bigger trailer. I don't want more money. I don't want better catering. I just want one scene between Tom and I, where you, McQ, write it like 'The Usual Suspects', and we get a chance to get in there.' And he delivered."
McQuarrie granted Whigham's wish, writing a scene between Briggs and Ethan Hunt inspired by the acclaimed 1995 crime thriller "The Usual Suspects", which earned McQuarrie an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. According to Whigham, McQuarrie "nailed" the scene, which he believes will resonate with fans of the earlier film.
Despite the delays in production, Whigham expresses excitement for the upcoming film, claiming it will be a cinematic adventure that will astound audiences. He praises Cruise and McQuarrie for their vision and the unique story they have crafted.
"What he's doing now, people are going to be floored," he gushed. "He wants to make this one like an adventure film, and he and McQuarrie have an idea of what they want to do with it. So it's going to be amazing."
Along with Whigham, "Mission: Impossible 8" will feature Hannah Waddingham, who has praised Cruise's "fabulous" personality and McQuarrie's directing skills. The film is currently scheduled to hit theaters on May 23, 2025.
