Mission: Impossible’s Shocking Family Secret Revealed!

by

Mission Impossible – Last Accounting

In the film, Mission Impossible – Last Accounting, Shea Whigham joins the cast as Jasper Briggs, a member of the U.S. Intelligence Community who specializes in apprehending Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and retrieving the crucial key to the submerged Sevastopol submarine. His job, which he enthusiastically accepted, was to guarantee that only the United States could recover the Entity’s source code from the sunken vessel, giving them control over an AI designed to dictate world events. Ethan, who believes that no one should have control over the Entity, decides to go against orders in a desperate attempt to destroy the AI, thus creating tension between him and Jasper Briggs. However, Mission Impossible – The Final Accounting adds an additional dimension to their disagreement, tying Jasper to a significant character from the franchise’s initial movie.

Warning: Spoilers below for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

In the movie “Dead Reckoning,” while some characters view Ethan as mistaken in his plan to eliminate the Entity, Jasper is firmly convinced that Ethan is a deceitful agent from the start. This suspicion isn’t unfounded, considering Ethan has always acted outside the rules in every film of the franchise without exception. In Jasper’s eyes, Ethan may appear as a hero, but he’s allegedly been manipulating major intelligence agencies for over three decades, which isn’t entirely far-fetched. Given his rigid principles, Ethan often operates beyond legal limits, making him extremely threatening to the United States’ sovereignty. Yet, Jasper’s unwavering pursuit of Ethan is driven by a personal bond with the protagonist. As “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” unveils, Jasper Briggs’ true identity is Jim Phelps Jr., the son of the 1996 “Mission: Impossible” antagonist portrayed by Jon Voight.

Jasper Briggs’ Family History Explains His Hatred for Ethan Hunt

1996’s “Mission: Impossible” movie features Jim Phelps, a renowned leader of the IMF team, executing a mission in Prague aimed at stopping an American diplomat from acquiring the CIA’s list of Non-Official Cover (NOC) agents stationed in Eastern Europe. However, the operation takes a tragic turn as the list seems to be stolen, and it appears that Phelps and his entire team are eliminated one by one. The only survivor is Ethan Hunt. Suspected as the mole who set up this disaster by IMF Director Eugene Kittridge (Henry Czerny), Ethan sets out to prove his innocence, uncover the real traitor, and exonerate himself. To do so, he flees, gathering a new team comprising Claire Phelps (Emmanuelle Béart, who is a disavowed IMF agent and Jim’s widow), Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames), and Franz Krieger (Jean Reno). Their goal is to seize the genuine NOC list from CIA headquarters in Langley, using it as bait to catch the true culprit.

The surprising twist in the movie is that Jim Phelps, not someone else, is the true traitor. He staged his own demise in Prague and masterminded the plot to swipe and peddle the NOC list to an arms dealer called Max (Vanessa Redgrave) for a large amount of money. This decision was fueled by his disenchantment following decades of Cold War duty. His wife, Claire, was his co-conspirator from the outset, posing as a double agent within Ethan’s squad. Krieger was also involved, having been part of the initial betrayal in Prague. Phelps aimed to let Ethan bear the blame, but Ethan eventually uncovers the plot during a dramatic showdown on a TGV train headed for Paris, ultimately leading to Phelps’ demise.

Within the “Mission: Impossible” series, it’s clear to viewers that Jim Phelps was portrayed as a villain. However, within the storyline, Ethan’s amazing abilities are usually supported only by his word and evidence gathered by his team, often obtained illegally. Given that Ethan painted Jim as a corrupt man, it makes sense for his son to believe he was innocent and took the fall because he was deceased and couldn’t defend himself. To Jasper, Ethan is the true culprit of the entire situation, a belief reinforced by his questionable actions over time, such as the theft of the Rabbit’s Foot and the explosion at the Kremlin.

In “The Final Reckoning,” despite harboring a personal animosity towards Ethan, Jasper makes it clear that he’s not driven by revenge. Unlike Ethan, Jasper adheres to authority and carries out instructions faithfully. This is why his appearances in the “Mission: Impossible” series were delayed. Although he’s long believed Ethan to be corrupt, Jasper would never take independent action. He only accepted the opportunity to confront Ethan once it was officially mandated.

Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning provides Jasper with a chance to come to terms with his past. When Ethan lays down everything to thwart Gabriel (Esai Morales) and the Entity, Jasper gets to see firsthand Ethan’s valiant attempts to save the world. This experience causes Jasper to understand that Ethan was truthful all along, and his father, Jim Phelps, was indeed culpable. In a touching scene, Jasper extends his hand to shake Ethan’s, symbolizing their reconciliation without words.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is currently available in theaters.

Is it your opinion that Jasper Briggs’ association with Jim Phelps enhances Shea Whigham’s portrayal of his character in the Mission: Impossible series? Feel free to share your thoughts below!

Read More

2025-05-27 01:10