Ethan Hunt
Encyclopedia
Ethan Hunt is the central protagonist
in the Mission: Impossible film series.
, Hunt acts as the IMF point man for an established and experienced field team, led by veteran Jim Phelps, with whom he has a particularly close bond. While attempting to recover stolen files containing information on all IMF's field agents during a mission in Prague
, the entire team, barring Hunt, is killed, leaving Hunt the only suspect as he learns that the mission was a set-up to expose a potential mole who had been selling secrets to a Czech arms dealer. With no other way to clear his name, Hunt decides to steal the genuine list himself, intending to demand that the genuine mole be present at the exchange. He sets up a rogue team of other disavowed agents, including computer expert Luther Stickell
(Ving Rhames
), pilot Franz Krieger (Jean Reno
), and Claire Phelps (Emmanuelle Béart
), the only other apparent survivor of the failed Prague mission, with the intention of stealing the list from CIA headquarters. Having recovered it, Hunt is shocked to learn that the true traitor is actually Jim Phelps himself, who was completely unhinged and had become disillusioned with his career after feeling that he had become irrelevant. Phelps faked his own death in order to frame Hunt and was working with Krieger and Claire to eliminate the other members of the team. Setting up a situation where Jim's continued survival—and hence his criminal activities—are exposed to the head of IMF, Hunt subsequently defeats and kills Jim and Krieger as they attempt to escape from the train where Hunt had arranged to make the exchange. At the conclusion of the film, Hunt meets briefly with Stickell, who has become reinstated as an active agent, and contemplates resignation, but is later contacted by another agent asking if he wants another mission, thus taking over Jim's position.
in the series, Hunt is given the task of retrieving a deadly genetically engineered virus from a rogue IMF agent, Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott
), attempting to infiltrate his inner circle through Ambrose's former girlfriend, Nyah Nordoff-Hall (Thandie Newton
), an accomplished thief. During their mission Hunt and Nordoff-Hall engage in an affair that complicates the mission, particularly when Nordoff-Hall is forced to infect herself with the virus in order to save Hunt; with Hunt having destroyed the only other traces of the virus, she was thus able to shield Hunt until he could escape. Subsequently racing against time - the virus is incurable twenty hours after infection, Hunt manages to acquire the cure and kill Ambrose.
, Hunt, now a training officer for IMF, plans a quiet life with his fiancée Julia Mead (Michelle Monaghan
), before he is called back into service to rescue a former student captured during a mission in Germany
. He is forced to once again go rogue in an attempt to track down the ruthless arms dealer Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman
) and secure a mystery item only known as the 'Rabbit's Foot'. Later in the film, Hunt marries Julia in an impromptu ceremony. Owen has a double agent working within IMF and kidnaps Julia during the film. Hunt locates Julia and the Rabbit's Foot in Shanghai whilst killing Owen in the process.
as part of a plan to disavow them and allow them to operate beyond their usual limitations in the IMF agency.
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
in the Mission: Impossible film series.
Mission: Impossible
In Mission: ImpossibleMission: Impossible (film)
Mission: Impossible is a 1996 action thriller directed by Brian De Palma and starring Tom Cruise. Following on from the television series of the same name, the plot follows a new agent, Ethan Hunt and his mission to uncover the mole within the CIA who has framed him for the murders of his entire...
, Hunt acts as the IMF point man for an established and experienced field team, led by veteran Jim Phelps, with whom he has a particularly close bond. While attempting to recover stolen files containing information on all IMF's field agents during a mission in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, the entire team, barring Hunt, is killed, leaving Hunt the only suspect as he learns that the mission was a set-up to expose a potential mole who had been selling secrets to a Czech arms dealer. With no other way to clear his name, Hunt decides to steal the genuine list himself, intending to demand that the genuine mole be present at the exchange. He sets up a rogue team of other disavowed agents, including computer expert Luther Stickell
Luther Stickell
Luther Stickell is a supporting fictional character from the Mission: Impossible film series. The character first appeared in Mission: Impossible in 1996 and is the only character besides Ethan Hunt to appear in all four films....
(Ving Rhames
Ving Rhames
Irving Rameses "Ving" Rhames is an American actor best known for his work in Bringing Out the Dead, Pulp Fiction, Baby Boy, Don King: Only in America, and the Mission: Impossible film series.-Early life and education:...
), pilot Franz Krieger (Jean Reno
Jean Reno
Jean Reno is a French actor. Working in French, English, Spanish and Italian, he has appeared not only in numerous successful Hollywood productions such as The Pink Panther, Godzilla, The Da Vinci Code, Mission: Impossible, Ronin and Couples Retreat, but also in European productions such as the...
), and Claire Phelps (Emmanuelle Béart
Emmanuelle Béart
Emmanuelle Béart is a French film actress, who has appeared in over 50 film and television productions since 1972. Béart won a César Award for Best Supporting Actress in the film Manon des Sources . She has been nominated a further seven times for Most Promising Actress and Best Actress.- Early...
), the only other apparent survivor of the failed Prague mission, with the intention of stealing the list from CIA headquarters. Having recovered it, Hunt is shocked to learn that the true traitor is actually Jim Phelps himself, who was completely unhinged and had become disillusioned with his career after feeling that he had become irrelevant. Phelps faked his own death in order to frame Hunt and was working with Krieger and Claire to eliminate the other members of the team. Setting up a situation where Jim's continued survival—and hence his criminal activities—are exposed to the head of IMF, Hunt subsequently defeats and kills Jim and Krieger as they attempt to escape from the train where Hunt had arranged to make the exchange. At the conclusion of the film, Hunt meets briefly with Stickell, who has become reinstated as an active agent, and contemplates resignation, but is later contacted by another agent asking if he wants another mission, thus taking over Jim's position.
Mission: Impossible II
In the second filmMission: Impossible II
Mission: Impossible II is a 2000 action film directed by John Woo, and starring Tom Cruise, who also served as the film's producer...
in the series, Hunt is given the task of retrieving a deadly genetically engineered virus from a rogue IMF agent, Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott
Dougray Scott
-Early life:The son of Elma, a nurse, and Alan Scott, an actor and salesperson, Stephen Dougray Scott was born in Glenrothes, Fife and attended Auchmuty High School...
), attempting to infiltrate his inner circle through Ambrose's former girlfriend, Nyah Nordoff-Hall (Thandie Newton
Thandie Newton
Thandiwe Nashita "Thandie" Newton is a British actress. She has appeared in a number of British and American films, including The Pursuit of Happyness, Mission: Impossible II, Crash, Run, Fatboy, Run and W....
), an accomplished thief. During their mission Hunt and Nordoff-Hall engage in an affair that complicates the mission, particularly when Nordoff-Hall is forced to infect herself with the virus in order to save Hunt; with Hunt having destroyed the only other traces of the virus, she was thus able to shield Hunt until he could escape. Subsequently racing against time - the virus is incurable twenty hours after infection, Hunt manages to acquire the cure and kill Ambrose.
Mission: Impossible III
In the third filmMission: Impossible III
Mission: Impossible III is a 2006 spy film, the third based on the spy-themed television series Mission: Impossible starring Tom Cruise who reprises his role of IMF agent Ethan Hunt....
, Hunt, now a training officer for IMF, plans a quiet life with his fiancée Julia Mead (Michelle Monaghan
Michelle Monaghan
Michelle Lynn Monaghan is an American actress known for her roles in Mission: Impossible III, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Gone Baby Gone, Made of Honor, The Heartbreak Kid, Eagle Eye, and Source Code.-Early life:...
), before he is called back into service to rescue a former student captured during a mission in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He is forced to once again go rogue in an attempt to track down the ruthless arms dealer Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman is an American actor and director. Hoffman began acting in television in 1991, and the following year started to appear in films...
) and secure a mystery item only known as the 'Rabbit's Foot'. Later in the film, Hunt marries Julia in an impromptu ceremony. Owen has a double agent working within IMF and kidnaps Julia during the film. Hunt locates Julia and the Rabbit's Foot in Shanghai whilst killing Owen in the process.
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
Ethan Hunt will return in the fourth entry of the franchise. He and his IMF team are blamed for an attack that destroys the KremlinMoscow Kremlin
The Moscow Kremlin , sometimes referred to as simply The Kremlin, is a historic fortified complex at the heart of Moscow, overlooking the Moskva River , Saint Basil's Cathedral and Red Square and the Alexander Garden...
as part of a plan to disavow them and allow them to operate beyond their usual limitations in the IMF agency.