Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning makes this character’s death in the franchise even more heartbreaking

Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning is reportedly the last entry in the long-running action franchise. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, the film was co-written by him and Erik Jendresen. It was released on May 23, 2025, by Paramount Pictures. Here's the official synopsis:

Our lives are the sum of our choices. Tom Cruise is Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning.

One of the characters in the franchise meets a heartbreaking death: Ilsa Faust, portrayed by the talented Swedish actress Rebecca Ferguson. Let’s delve into the character and discuss why she didn't appear in the latest installment.

Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning Doesn't Feature Ilsa

Before Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, Ilsa Faust was introduced in 2015's Rogue Nation. She is a former MI6 agent who works for The Syndicate as an undercover operative, where she encounters Ethan Hunt. Gradually, they both begin to have feelings for each other. The character also appears in the sequel, Dead Reckoning Part One, as she strives to dismantle The Syndicate. Hunt even separates from his wife to start a relationship with Ilsa.

People anticipated seeing more of her in the next installment. However, the character dies while trying to save Grace from an assassin named Gabriel. She was attempting to stop the AI, which serves as the main villain in Final Reckoning.

The death of the character feels like a personal loss, as it is a crucial element of the overall storyline. The film approaches fridging, which refers to the practice of killing off female characters in service of the story. Her absence in Final Reckoning also impacts Ethan Hunt, particularly as he becomes romantically involved with Grace, which feels unsettling. Given how Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning ends, it would have been more effective if Ilisa had also been present there.

In one of her interviews, Ferguson stated that she was partially responsible for the decision to end the character. She attributed it to the hectic filming schedule of the MI films, which doesn't allow them to sign on to other projects. Speaking to the Unwrapped podcast, she said:

“Ilsa was becoming a team player and we all can want different things, but for me… Ilsa was naughty. Ilsa was unpredictable.”

She said,

“[there are] a lot of characters coming in, not leaving enough space for what she had been.”

The actress continued,

“Selfishly, that’s a lot of time to make a Mission film. And unless you’re going to have a lot of screen time, that’s a lot of time sitting around waiting to film a huge movie that could take over a year to film.”

More about Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning

Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning was produced by Cruise and McQuarrie. With a production budget of around $300 to $400 million, it is one of the most expensive films ever made. Here is a list of the cast members: