With nearly three decades, three on-screen deaths, and over a dozen death-defying stunts under its belt, the Mission: Impossible franchise, led by Ethan Hunt, has reached a critical juncture with The Final Reckoning. The lingering question of “what’s next?” has been a persistent theme, explored in various ways throughout the series.

Tom Cruise is inextricably linked to the series, and over the years, he has repeatedly reaffirmed his commitment to the franchise, stating his dedication will endure until his passing. Longtime fans are aware that some of this can be seen as a direct response to Paramount, particularly after Jeremy Renner’s casting as William Brandt in Ghost Protocol, which sparked rumors that he might take over as the lead if Cruise were to retire. Although this never materialized, from Ghost Protocol onwards, Cruise has been paired with another star as a co-lead, including Rebecca Ferguson’s Ilsa Faust (introduced in Rogue Nation), Hayley Atwell’s Grace (Dead Reckoning), and Henry Cavill’s August Walker (Fallout).

All four actors, including Cavill until his character’s villainous reveal, have seemed like attempts by Mission: Impossible to gauge audience interest in potential successors to Cruise. Each has been introduced as a foil or mirror to Ethan and has been given at least one stunt or action scene to demonstrate their capabilities as a potential new lead. Whether this has been the writers’ intention or not, the possibility of a new protagonist seems likely, even if it means finding a middle ground, such as having them handle shootouts and fistfights while Ethan continues to perform death-defying stunts, a pattern already established in Final Reckoning.

After assembling his latest team, Ethan splits off from them to undertake the highly publicized deep-sea stunt, investigating a shipwrecked submarine while his allies engage Russian special forces on St. Matthew’s Island. Given that this series continually builds upon its predecessors, it is reasonable to assume that this could be the path forward if Cruise is resolute about leading these films until his physical limitations dictate otherwise.

Alternatively, with Cruise now having a development and production deal with Warner Bros., including a project with Alejandro González Iñárritu and potentially an Edge of Tomorrow sequel, Paramount could choose to keep Mission: Impossible alive without him for a film or two. This would give audiences time to miss Ethan while investing in new or returning characters, making his eventual return a significant event, potentially as impactful as Top Gun: Maverick was a few years ago.

If this path is not taken, the next few years might see the emergence of a new wave of action spy movies, akin to those fronted by women that attempted to fill the gap left by the absent Black Widow movie until 2021. Mission: Impossible is among the last of the big franchises in this genre, alongside Jason Bourne and James Bond, both of which may have new films in development but nothing concrete as yet. (Fast & Furious operates in a similar space but differently, and its next movie is currently in limbo.) The potential vacuum in this genre means any actor or director could make a name for themselves.

Several actors have recently shown interest in the action genre: Dev Patel, following his directorial debut with Monkey Man, is set to star in the medieval action-thriller The Peasant. Simu Liu is eyeing a Sleeping Dogs movie that would utilize his training from Shang-Chi, and notably, Florence Pugh convinced Disney to let her perform a skyscraper jump for a stunt in Marvel’s Thunderbolts.

The emphasis on practical work in Thunderbolts and Pugh’s determination highlight a desire among current stars to engage in real physical action. Cruise has advocated for younger actors to make themselves capable of such work and study classic films, even establishing separate boot camps for his Final Reckoning and Top Gun: Maverick co-stars. The focus on practical stunts has been one of Mission: Impossible‘s greatest strengths, and several actors, like Pom Klementieff, seem to be embracing Cruise’s philosophy. Audiences also seem more than willing to watch a movie in theaters if it promises to be worthwhile and authentic, a aspect at which action movies excel. However, whether studios will allow this to happen and provide actors and creatives the opportunities to deliver these tangible, realistic thrills is another matter.

For more io9 news, check out the upcoming release dates for Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.