Rolf Saxon’s Shocking Return in ‘Mission: Impossible: Final Reckoning’!

by

In every “Mission: Impossible” film, only two characters have consistently appeared – Tom Cruise as the protagonist Ethan Hunt, and Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell, his loyal confidant. Although Rhames didn’t receive credit in “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” he was indeed a part of it. Interestingly, Rhames was the only actor from the first film to return until the latest release, “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning.” However, another actor from the original movie is set to make a comeback in the upcoming eighth installment, “The Final Reckoning” – Rolf Saxon, reprising his humorous and endearing role as CIA analyst William Donloe.

Recently, Saxon conversed with Matt Mahler from MovieWeb regarding his return to the franchise following almost three decades. He mentioned that his character won’t be the sole nod to the 1996 movie.

It seems that many events from the start (number one) are repeating themselves in part eight, which makes it really intriguing. I believe the viewers will find this connection captivating.

According to Saxon, during his chat with director Christopher McQuarrie of Mission: Impossible, he learned that Henry Czerny would reappear in the movie. He also shared the concept of Donloe’s return and some intriguing events from Donloe’s life over the past 30 years. It all sounded amazing to him, truly captivating. McQuarrie mentioned they’d work out the specific details later, but he stressed that no one could reveal anything about them yet… not a soul. This information was kept under wraps for nearly a year until McQuarrie finally shared it on Twitter after informing Saxon first. As you might guess, the entire film has been shrouded in secrecy.

How Rolf Saxon Returned as Fan-Favorite Character William Donloe

In case you’ve forgotten, Donloe is the CIA analyst who played a significant role in the memorable scene from the initial movie where Ethan Hunt secretly entered the CIA headquarters at Langley, hanging unnoticed from the ceiling vents and collecting sweat droplets to avoid detection. Nearly three decades later, Donloe will reappear (after being sent to Alaska in the first film). Saxon recalls the moment when he was initially asked to return.

Saxon shared that he received word from an unknown source claiming a European film company wished to connect with him. Given his extensive background in London’s industry, he found this plausible and asked for more details. However, the contact refused to disclose their identity. They simply stated they wanted to discuss something called Skydance, a production company known for creating the “Mission: Impossible” films since the fourth installment. Initially skeptical, believing it might be a prank, Saxon remained intrigued.

After receiving a link, I found out that Chris McQuarrie, the writer-director, wished to talk with me. Skeptical, I thought, “Really? Okay, go ahead.” Then, surprisingly, it turned out to be him on the call! I was taken aback and we chatted for nearly an hour. He shared his plans with me, and within five minutes, I agreed excitedly. It was a fantastic opportunity!

Saxon spent over a week working alongside his canine co-star, as there were originally plans for some playful scenes involving a dog in the movie. However, unfortunately, these scenes didn’t make it into the final cut (though they might appear in the home media release as bonus content — hint, hint, McQuarry). “It didn’t make the final selection,” Saxon regretted. “We spent around a week or so, worked together, but it had no connection to the adorable dog,” explained Saxon. “Gosh, I had such a great time with him, and the trainers were fantastic.” Saxon further added, reminiscing about how the franchise is coming full circle.

Originally, the plot took a different turn, but unfortunately, it didn’t make the final cut. I think there might have been a scene left out, which would have added depth if they are trying to conclude everything in eight movies… And yes, perhaps it will end up as a deleted scene, giving us a chance to see what could have been, and that would indeed be exciting!

We certainly hope that’s the case! And who knows, perhaps there could be a humorous spin-off featuring Donloe. We’d definitely tune in! In the interim, catch Rolf Saxon again when Paramount Pictures’ Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning graces the big screen on May 23, 2025, following its premiere at Cannes on May 14.”

As for a comedic spin-off, you could even add some playful humor to it like this:

“Fingers crossed! And hey, if they ever make a Donloe spin-off, we’d be first in line for tickets! In the meantime, don’t miss Rolf Saxon’s comeback when Paramount Pictures’ Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning takes over theaters on May 23, 2025, after making its debut at Cannes on May 14.

Read More

2025-04-12 03:03