Rebecca Ferguson’s Ilsa Faust has undoubtedly been one of the most compelling characters brought into Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible franchise by Christopher McQuarrie. Initially starring in Rogue Nation back in 2015, Ferguson’s character shocked fans when she got fatally stabbed in Dead Reckoning.
Now, eventually, after making her way out of the franchise after being left to bleed out on a Venice bridge, Rebecca Ferguson admitted how her character’s arc had run its course. Speaking to ET, while promoting Dune: Part Two, Ferguson again mentioned the same thing, when asked if Ilsa Faust would ever miraculously return to the franchise.
Ilsa Faust’s Death Was a Gut Punch in Dead Reckoning
Tom Cruise‘s Mission Impossible franchise has been one of the most renowned film series of all time. Making millions of dollars at the box office with each installment, the action-fueled franchise has witnessed several star-studded casts alongside Cruise’s Ethan Hunt. One of such acclaimed actors was Rebecca Ferguson.
The actress initially made her way into the franchise in 2015, after Christopher McQuarrie introduced her character opposite Tom Cruise’s Hunt, in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. Rebecca Ferguson’s character Ilsa Faust, was a British spy with a dark past and associations with MI6. She often worked in the shadows and never came off as someone Ethan could fully trust.
But that was part of the charm, which eventually led Ilsa Faust and Ethan Hunt to get romantically involved. However, despite their chemistry that was slowly building up, fans were left bewildered when Ilsa was fatally stabbed by Esai Morales’ Gabriel on a Venice bridge in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023). The death of Rebecca Ferguson’s character came as a devastating blow to fans that became difficult to accept.
Rebecca Ferguson Broke Silence on Returning to Mission Impossible
While fans mourned the death of Rebecca Ferguson‘s compelling character Ilsa Faust, the actress openly noted that her character had run its course. Therefore, it seemed important to kill her off in the franchise to carry on the storyline without making things boring. But fans couldn’t fathom the absence of Ferguson’s Ilsa Faust.
Therefore, when Rebecca Ferguson appeared to promote Dune: Part Two, the actress was asked the highly requested question by ET, about her miraculous return to Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible franchise. Unfortunately, Ferguson seemed to have a bitter reply to the question as she admitted that there was no point in returning. Although she didn’t speak directly, the actress’ response implied her perpetual exit from the franchise.
“Do you remember when we talked about those three picture deals in Hollywood? Well, sometimes those end, and actors have the possibility of saying yes or no. So we were at that point and Mission is such a huge dedication, and I’ve done it, and it’s fantastic, and it’s amazing and [Christopher McQuarrie] and [Tom Cruise] wrote this incredible character.”
“It’s just that much you can do with a character, I find. I’m entitled to my own opinion in this. I want her to go rogue. I’m interested in the dark side. I don’t want a team member. It’s not interesting to me and I felt like that’s where we were heading, and it also takes a lot of time to make Mission. It is blood, sweat, and tears doing those films and by now, I’ve done a TV show and two movies. They’re still on Mission… But that’s the thing you never know, right?”
Claiming that she’s no longer interested in her character’s arc, Rebecca Ferguson noted that she wants Ilsa to “go rogue” and no longer be a “team member.” But since it seems rather impossible, Ferguson preferred the way she wrapped the creative direction of her character.
