Tom Cruise may already be circling his next spy game after ‘Mission: Impossible’.
The 63-year-old actor spent nearly three decades playing Ethan Hunt across eight ‘Mission: Impossible’ films, beginning with Brian De Palma’s 1996 original and most recently returning for 2025’s ‘Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning’. That film has been treated as the apparent final chapter for the franchise, leaving one obvious question behind.
What does Cruise do next if Ethan Hunt is really done? A new report suggests he may not be leaving the spy thriller world for long.
Tom Cruise Reportedly Circling New Spy Thriller
According to Jeff Sneider’s TheInSneider, Cruise is rumored to be meeting with writer Aneesh Chaganty about a new original spy thriller titled ‘Doppelgänger’. The deal is not official, and Cruise has not formally signed on.
Skydance obtained the rights to the project in June 2025. The movie was written by Chaganty and Dan Frey, with Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Chaganty, and Natalie Qasabian producing.
Earlier reports described the film as having “two very meaty lead roles for an actor and actress,” though no casting has been officially announced.
Sneider claimed Chaganty has flown to Florida multiple times to meet with Cruise and is currently rewriting the script to fit the actor’s specifications. Cruise is reportedly expected to make a final decision once the script is finished. For now, the report describes him as loosely attached.
‘Doppelgänger’ Could Give Cruise A New Franchise Lane
If Cruise does take the role, the film would reportedly cast him as a CIA agent named Veer.
The story follows Veer after he learns that Russia has recruited a man who looks exactly like him and plans to use that double as a mole. The twist does not stop there, as the film may involve more than one Veer doppelgänger.
That setup sounds tailor-made for Cruise: espionage, identity games, global stakes, and probably enough room for him to run very fast in several countries.
No release date has been announced for ‘Doppelgänger’.
Cruise Reflects On Three Decades Of Ethan Hunt
Cruise has already posted emotionally about his long run with ‘Mission: Impossible’.
“Over 30 years ago, I began the journey of producing my first film, ‘Mission: Impossible’,” he said. “Since then, these eight films have taken me on the adventure of a lifetime.”
He thanked the directors, actors, artists, and crews who helped build the series around the world, then turned the focus to fans. “Most importantly, I want to thank the audience, for whom it is our great pleasure to create these films, and for whom we all serve,” Cruise said.
If ‘The Final Reckoning’ really closed the book on Ethan Hunt, Cruise may now be looking for a new spy identity. ‘Doppelgänger’ is not a done deal yet, but the rumor alone is enough to get action fans paying attention.
