Every MCU Actor in the Mission: Impossible Movie Franchise

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In the 21st century, the “Mission: Impossible” and Marvel movie series have risen to become two of the most successful film franchises. They even share some common actors. By the year 2025, both “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” and “The Fantastic Four’s First Steps” made it into the top ten highest-grossing films of the year and have been highly popular releases in recent months. The Marvel Cinematic Universe features numerous heroes, while “Mission: Impossible” primarily focuses on Tom Cruise’s character as an agent for the Impossible Mission Force across eight movies.

These blockbuster series, Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and Mission: Impossible, consistently attract A-list Hollywood stars to work alongside their lead performers. Notably, several prominent actors have graced the screens of both high-grossing film series.

1) Ving Rhames

As a die-hard fan myself, I must say that while Ving Rhames is renowned for his long-running character Luther Strickell in the Mission: Impossible series, his fleeting roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe have been somewhat overlooked. In the year 2017, he graced our screens as Charlie-27 in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. This role was a touching tribute to Yondu Udonta (played by Michael Rooker), following Yondu’s demise, and eventually led to Charlie-27 reuniting with other Ravagers. With six Mission: Impossible appearances under his belt, equaling Tom Cruise, Rhames’ brief foray into the MCU was a delightful surprise for fans of the Mission: Impossible franchise.

2) Laurence Fishburne

Laurence Fishburne has been a prominent figure in several significant movie series, including the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and Mission: Impossible. In the film “Mission: Impossible III” from 2006, Fishburne played IMF director Theodore Brassel, who frequently butted heads with Ethan throughout the storyline. After “Mission: Impossible III”, Brassel left the franchise, marking his departure. In 2018, Fishburne made his entrance into the MCU in the movie “Ant-Man and the Wasp” where he portrayed Dr. Bill Foster, a biochemist and previous collaborator of Hank Pym (played by Michael Douglas). Notably, Foster acted as a mentor to Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) in relation to her quantum energy condition. However, the events following “Ant-Man and the Wasp” are unknown for Foster within the MCU, with no indication of his return thus far. Despite Fishburne’s apparent conclusion with both franchises, his impactful roles in Mission: Impossible and the MCU are unlikely to be forgotten.

3) Jeremy Renner 

Known for a 14-year stint in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as Clint Barton/Hawkeye, Jeremy Renner has battled various villains such as Loki, Ultron, and Thanos. A founding member of The Avengers, Hawkeye is renowned for his archery skills, and although his future is undecided, he’s widely regarded as a legendary superhero. Besides his prominent MCU role, Renner also distinguished himself in the Mission: Impossible franchise through his portrayal of William Brandt. He featured in 2011’s “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” and “Rogue Nation,” four years later. Despite being present in only two films, Brandt is remembered for being a complex character due to his relationship with Ethan Hunt and his wife Julia (Michelle Monaghan). Through his performances in the MCU and Mission: Impossible series, Renner has demonstrated his talent as an action star.

4) Angela Bassett

Angela Bassett shone brilliantly as Queen Ramonda in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), playing the matriarch and mother of T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) and Shuri (Letitia Wright). In both Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ramonda played a significant role. Sadly, her death in the latter movie implies she won’t be returning to the MCU. However, Bassett’s nuanced portrayal of Ramonda ensured she became a beloved character.

Bassett also joined the Mission: Impossible franchise as CIA director and later President Erika Sloane in Mission: Impossible – Fallout. She continued her role in The Final Reckoning. While Sloane doesn’t have extensive screen time, she’s pivotal in some of the movie’s key moments. Furthermore, Bassett consistently steals the scene with her performance.

5) Vanessa Kirby

In the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) installments, Vanessa Kirby recently entered the scene as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps“. Fans were thrilled with her casting and praised her performance in “First Steps“, labeling it one of the MCU’s finest character depictions. Kirby seems destined for a promising future in the MCU, starring in “Avengers: Doomsday” and potentially beyond. Previously, Kirby appeared as Alanna Mitsopolis/White Widow in “Fallout” and the upcoming 2023 movie “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning“. As a philanthropist and arms dealer who frequently interacts with Ethan, their relationship is intriguing. Kirby consistently shines when she’s in the spotlight, and her performances in both the MCU and Mission: Impossible films are no different.

6) Henry Cavill

In the movie “Mission: Impossible – Fallout,” Henry Cavill portrayed August Walker, a cunning CIA agent who appeared to be working with Ethan on a mission to prevent a terror attack involving stolen plutonium cores. However, it was revealed that Walker was secretly collaborating with a terrorist group called the Apostles. When Ethan discovered Walker’s true intentions, a fierce confrontation ensued, ultimately leading to Walker’s demise. Cavill showcased his exceptional action skills in this role, and viewers appreciated his cool demeanor and subtle charm as August Walker. Additionally, Cavill had a brief but entertaining appearance in the MCU.

In the movie “Deadpool and Wolverine,” Henry Cavill made a thrilling, albeit brief, entrance as he stepped into the role of Cavillrine – a spin-off of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. In his quick scene, Cavill’s version had an altercation with the film’s main characters while they were fixing Wolverine’s motorcycle, promptly attacking them and sending them out of his own universe. For years, Henry Cavill had been a much-loved fan choice for the role of Wolverine, making his cameo in “Deadpool and Wolverine” an enjoyable surprise for many Marvel enthusiasts.

7) Hayley Atwell

As a passionate movie-goer, I’ve got to admit that I’m quite proud of my journey within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), starting as Agent Sharon Carter in “Captain America: The First Avenger” back in 2011. From squaring off against Nazis in World War II to morphing into Captain Carter in another universe, it’s been a thrilling ride!

My foray into the Mission: Impossible world commenced with “Dead Reckoning,” where I played Grace, a cunning thief working under the White Widow to nab half of the Entity’s key from Ethan. Eventually, Grace found herself teaming up with the IMF, which paved the way for my appearances in “The Final Reckoning” and solidified my status as a memorable character in the last two films.

All in all, I’ve proven myself to be an action-packed superhero on par with the best of them, thanks to my roles in the MCU and Mission: Impossible!

8) Pom Klementieff

Pom Klementieff has become well-known in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for her portrayal of Mantis in the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ trilogy, as well as ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘Avengers: Endgame’. The half-Celestial character’s unique empathic abilities often play a crucial role in the dynamics among the Guardians, adding humor to many scenes. Klementieff’s performance as the villain Paris in ‘Dead Reckoning’ and ‘The Final Reckoning’ from the ‘Mission: Impossible’ series showcases her combat skills and relentless pursuit of Ethan, stealing the spotlight in both movies. The contrast between her characters in the MCU and ‘Mission: Impossible’ highlights Klementieff’s versatility as an actress, making Mantis and Paris two memorable characters within their respective franchises, thanks to Klementieff’s exceptional talent.

9) Katy O’Brian

Over the past few years, actress Katy O’Brian has been gaining momentum in Hollywood, becoming part of some significant movie franchises. In 2023’s “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” she played Jentorra, a Freedom Fighter leader who fought against Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors) in the Quantum Realm. Despite the film being packed with characters, both old and new to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, O’Brian left a lasting impact with her powerful performance. Two years later, she appeared in “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” as Kodiak, a U.S. Navy diver. It’s evident that O’Brian is an emerging talent, following her captivating roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Mission: Impossible.

On August 19th, you’ll have the chance to either rent or buy “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” digitally.

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2025-08-28 02:41