Mission: Impossible – Fallout director Christopher McQuirrie has announced a new addition to his seventh and eighth installments of the Tom Cruise-led franchise. Boardwalk Empire actor Shea Whigham is the latest to join the cast as what may be the antagonist for both films.
McQuirrie revealed the news over his Twitter page saying simply of Whigham’s unknown character “You won’t see him coming.” The cryptic line could be a hint that Whigham will play Mission: Impossible 7 and 8‘s new villain or he’s just a really capable member of Ethan Hunt’s team.
https://twitter.com/chrismcquarrie/status/1208153928929443841
Whigham joins newcomers Hayley Atwell (Avengers: Endgame) and Pom Klementieff (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2) in the upcoming sequels. Returning cast members include Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames as Ethan Hunt, Ilsa Faust, Benji Dunn and Luther Stickell respectively. McQuirrie intends to shoot Mission: Impossible 7 and 8 back-to-back.
Mission: Impossible 7 is scheduled to hit theatres on 23rd July 2021. Mission: Impossible 8 is slated for August 25th, 2022.
