Tom Cruise and Henry Cavill Reported for 'Broadsword'

(Left) Tom Cruise attends the Abu Dhabi red carpet and premiere of ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ presented by Paramount Pictures and Skydance at Emirates Palace Hotel on June 26, 2023 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Photo by Darren Arthur/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures. (Center) Henry Cavill is Agent Argylle in “Argylle,” directed by Matthew Vaughn. (Right) Marion Cotillard in “Extrapolations,” premiering March 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.

Preview:

Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill and Marion Cotillard could star in ‘Broadsword’.
It is a World War II film developed by “Mission: Impossible” co-writer/director Christopher McQuarrie.
It can be filmed before or after Cruise works with Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu.

While Tom Cruise and writer/director Christopher McQuarrie are still deep into finishing their latest film “Mission: Impossible” (for the record, this would be the eighth in the franchise, the sequel to last year’s “Dead Reckoning” and one that has seen its release date pushed back multiple times for various reasons), they also have an eye on the future and collaborations outside the world of Ethan Hunt and the IMF.

Now that McQuarrie has finished prepping the next “Mission” movie for a May 2025 release, it looks like he’s ready to shake things up while still starring Cruise.

The filmmaker has been preparing a new World War II script with Dead Reckoning/Eighth Mission co-writer Erik Jendresen, and according to World of Reel, it’s called Broadsword.

Following the Cruise news, we have word from regular movie scooper Daniel Richtman that Henry Cavill and Marion Cotillard are in talks to join him. Cavill, of course, appeared alongside the actor in 2018’s “Mission: Impossible –– Fallout.”

Related: Director Christopher McQuarrie Talks ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’

What is the story of “Broadsword”?

Henry Cavill in “Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare”. Photo: Daniel Smith.

The new film is reportedly the story of an SOE (Special Operations Executive, an underground army fighting the enemy in Europe and Asia) operation in World War II. It follows a sea captain who crashes in France and becomes the sole survivor. Against all odds, he must accomplish his mission amid the chaos of war.

Cavill, of course, has some background in World War II covert ops thanks to starring in this year’s Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare for director Guy Ritchie. Meanwhile, Cotillard appeared in “Allied” and Cruise in “Valkyrie,” which McQuarrie wrote.

What did McQuarrie say about the film?

Christopher McQuarrie, writer and director of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.

Speaking on one of several mammoth Empire Spoiler Special podcasts for the release of “Dead Reckoning,” here’s what McQuarrie had to say about the new film:

“There’s a movie that Cruise and I are talking about doing next or in the likely future that Erik and I have been developing together — what’s been referred to on the internet as ‘The Gnarly Movie.’ It’s that movie that everyone is asking for and that we want to make.”

When can we expect ‘Broadsword’ to shoot?

Tom Cruise plays Captain Pete "Nonconformist, wanderer, wanderer" Mitchell in

Tom Cruise stars as Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in Paramount Pictures, Skydance and Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ Top Gun: Maverick.

It’s anyone’s guess at this point, though Production Weekly, “Broadsword” will shoot next year. Cruise has been in talks with “Birdman” Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu to star in his next film, so it’s possible that could happen next, followed by “Broadsword.” And if recent chatter from Glen Powell is to be believed, there’s a start date (though not immediate) for another “Top Gun” movie in our collective future as well.

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The sequel to Top Gun: Maverick (2022) and the third entry in the “Top Gun” franchise. Plot TBA. Read The Plot

“Broadsword” will be produced and distributed by Warner Bros. as part of its recent deal with Cruise, so naturally the studio will want to jump on that as soon as possible. Does this mean Ethan Hunt and the team are taking a break for a while? It certainly could –– but that means we have a chance to miss out on their crazy action tragedy.

And let’s not forget that the next ‘Mission’ movie isn’t too far off after all – it hits theaters on May 23 next year.