The IMF Files: Where Is The Mission: Impossible (1996) Cast Now? (2025 Updates)
The original Mission: Impossible film, released in 1996, was more than just a blockbuster; it was the cinematic blueprint that launched one of the most successful and enduring action franchises in Hollywood history. Directed by Brian De Palma, the film introduced the world to an entirely new, high-stakes version of IMF agent Ethan Hunt, complete with mask reveals, exploding gum, and the iconic, silence-driven vault infiltration scene.
Nearly three decades later, as of late December 2025, the star-studded ensemble cast of the first film remains highly active, with several members making major headlines in 2025 with highly-anticipated projects. From a shocking return to the IMF to a celebrated directorial debut, here is a deep dive into the legendary Mission: Impossible 1996 cast, their roles, and their most current, fresh updates.
Mission: Impossible (1996) Main Cast and Biography Profiles
The 1996 film assembled an international cast of heavy-hitters, many of whom were already established stars in their own right, lending immense credibility to the spy thriller's complex plot.
- Tom Cruise (Ethan Hunt): Born July 3, 1962, in Syracuse, New York. Cruise is one of the highest-paid actors in the world and a global cultural icon, known for performing his own death-defying stunts. His role as the framed IMF agent Ethan Hunt became the anchor of the entire franchise.
- Jon Voight (Jim Phelps): Born December 29, 1938, in Yonkers, New York. An Academy Award winner, Voight played the team's leader and mentor, Jim Phelps, whose shocking betrayal forms the central twist of the film.
- Ving Rhames (Luther Stickell): Born May 12, 1959, in Harlem, New York. Rhames portrayed Luther Stickell, the brilliant IMF computer hacker and the only character besides Ethan Hunt to appear in every subsequent Mission: Impossible film.
- Emmanuelle Béart (Claire Phelps): Born August 14, 1963, in Gassin, France. A César Award-winning French actress, Béart played Claire Phelps, the wife of Jim and a key member of the ill-fated mission team.
- Henry Czerny (Eugene Kittridge): Born February 8, 1959, in Toronto, Canada. Czerny played Eugene Kittridge, the suspicious and hard-nosed IMF director who hunts Ethan Hunt throughout the movie.
- Jean Reno (Franz Krieger): Born July 30, 1948, in Casablanca, French Morocco. A legendary French actor, Reno played Franz Krieger, a mysterious, knife-wielding freelance agent hired by Hunt.
- Kristin Scott Thomas (Sarah Davies): Born May 24, 1960, in Redruth, Cornwall, England. A BAFTA Award winner, Scott Thomas played Sarah Davies, a member of the initial IMF team who is killed in the mission's opening ambush.
The IMF Team: Where Are They Now? Fresh 2025 Updates
The original cast has continued to have prolific careers, but their 2025 activities highlight a surprising mix of blockbuster returns, directorial debuts, and new ventures, proving the enduring legacy of the spy thriller genre.
Tom Cruise (Ethan Hunt) and Ving Rhames (Luther Stickell)
The two constants of the Mission: Impossible franchise are, unsurprisingly, focused on its future. Tom Cruise is set to dominate the box office in 2025 with the next installment, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, where he will once again perform breathtaking, real-world stunts.
Beyond the IMF, Cruise has several other major projects on his slate, including the WWII-set film *Broadsword* and the highly-anticipated *Digger*, scheduled for a 2026 release.
Ving Rhames, who played the indispensable hacker Luther Stickell, also has a busy 2025. He is slated to star in the film *Uppercut* (2025) and has stepped into a new role as the host and executive producer of the History Channel's new nonfiction series, *History's Deadliest with Ving Rhames*, which is set to premiere in late 2025.
Henry Czerny (Eugene Kittridge) Returns to the IMF
One of the most exciting recent updates for fans of the original 1996 film is the return of Henry Czerny as the no-nonsense IMF Director Eugene Kittridge. Czerny reprised his role in 2023’s Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One and is set to return for *The Final Reckoning* in 2025, marking a nearly 30-year gap between his first two appearances in the franchise.
His return has been celebrated, as his character provided the perfect antagonistic foil to Ethan Hunt in the first film, setting the tone for the agency's often-strained relationship with its top agent. Czerny has commented that the new movie is "gobsmacking good," building anticipation for the 2025 release.
The International Stars: Surprising New Roles
The European actors who rounded out the original cast have not slowed down, with several pivoting to new and ambitious roles in 2025.
Kristin Scott Thomas' Directorial Debut
Kristin Scott Thomas, who played the ill-fated Sarah Davies, has achieved a major career milestone in 2025. She made her celebrated screenwriting and directorial debut with the film *My Mother's Wedding*.
The film is a deeply personal project for the actress, who also stars in it, and has been praised for its poignant, character-driven ensemble. This shift from acting to directing marks a significant and successful new chapter in her career.
Jean Reno and Jon Voight's Thriller Projects
French cinema legend Jean Reno (Krieger) continues to take on action-heavy roles. In 2025, he is set to star in the revenge thriller *The Butler*, where he plays an aged action hero caught in a twisty revenge tale, following in the footsteps of other veteran action stars.
Reno is also attached to the upcoming New York-set film *The Florist* and the animated sequel *Zootopia 2*.
Meanwhile, Jon Voight (Jim Phelps) is starring in the 2025 thriller *High Ground*. Voight, an Oscar winner, remains active in both film and political commentary, often making headlines for his outspoken views and involvement in various political initiatives.
Emmanuelle Béart's Activism and French Cinema Focus
Emmanuelle Béart (Claire Phelps) has largely remained a fixture of French cinema since her brief foray into Hollywood with Mission: Impossible, starring in over 60 films and TV projects.
In a powerful and personal move, Béart recently co-directed the documentary *Such a Resounding Silence*, in which she also appears as a protagonist, opening up about her own experience as a survivor of sexual abuse. This project highlights her commitment to leveraging her platform for social issues, a significant and impactful development in her career.
Behind the IMF Curtain: Production Secrets of the 1996 Film
The first Mission: Impossible was a notoriously difficult production, a fact that adds to its mystique and topical authority. The film’s complexity and success were achieved despite numerous behind-the-scenes challenges that would have sunk a lesser project.
The Incomplete Screenplay Problem
A shocking fact about the production is that director Brian De Palma and the cast went into pre-production without a complete, finalized screenplay that everyone agreed on. The script, eventually credited to David Koepp and Robert Towne, underwent continuous rewrites, leading to significant dissatisfaction and confusion on set.
This constant flux is rumored to have caused tension between director De Palma and producer/star Tom Cruise, who was heavily involved in deciding how the action sequences would unfold.
The Iconic Vault Scene's Origin
The film's most enduring and iconic sequence—Ethan Hunt dangling silently from the ceiling in the CIA vault—was a last-minute addition and required immense technical effort. The scene was designed to be silent to build tension, but the production team had to find a way to stop Cruise from swinging. To achieve the perfect, motionless shot, Cruise placed British two-pence coins in his boots to help keep him steady and balanced, a small but essential trick that allowed the scene to work.
The Jim Phelps Twist Controversy
The film is famous for its shocking twist: the beloved TV show character Jim Phelps is revealed to be the villain. This decision was highly controversial among fans of the original 1960s television series, who viewed the betrayal of the iconic team leader as sacrilege. However, the twist was instrumental in setting the franchise's tone, establishing that in the new Mission: Impossible world, no one is safe, and the line between ally and enemy is constantly blurred.
The enduring popularity of the *Mission: Impossible* franchise is a testament to the foundation laid by the 1996 film and its stellar cast. With Tom Cruise and Ving Rhames continuing their work in The Final Reckoning in 2025, and their original co-stars achieving new career heights, the legacy of the IMF’s first cinematic mission is stronger than ever.
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