At CinemaCon 2025, Tom Cruise delivered a heartfelt tribute to Mission: Impossible director Christopher McQuarrie, who was named CinemaCon's Director of the Year. During Paramount’s presentation, Cruise praised McQuarrie for his artistic brilliance and creative partnership, calling him "an artist of all time."

Cruise’s speech celebrated their long-time collaboration, which has spanned multiple Mission: Impossible films, including the upcoming Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, set for release on May 23, 2025. He also shared behind-the-scenes photos and video clips from the event on his Instagram, showcasing their strong professional bond.

In response to Cruise’s touching tribute, actor Jeremy Renner, who starred in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol and Rogue Nation, dropped a heartfelt four-word comment: "Miss you fine gents." The comment quickly caught fans’ attention, as Renner has been absent from the franchise since 2015. He previously declined a role in Fallout due to creative decisions around his character’s fate. While Renner has not been confirmed for Final Reckoning, his comment has sparked speculation about a potential return- either in the Mission universe or another project with Cruise and McQuarrie.