Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning shows Ilsa Faust being killed by villainous Gabriel on Venice bridge… or does it? Fans are convinced the franchise’s final moments suggest she survived.
Ever since her introduction in Rogue Nation – one of our favorite Mission: Impossible movies, for the record – Ilsa Faust has been an enigmatic match for Ethan Hunt. Played by Rebecca Ferguson, Faust turns from potential enemy to ally, and later a will-they-won’t-they romantic interest for Cruise’s hero.
But her fate was met in Dead Reckoning, much to the dismay of fans. It seemed clear Faust wouldn’t return in Final Reckoning, but according to fans, there might be a clue to suggest otherwise.
As the IMF meets for one last time, a split-second moment makes it possible for Ilsa Faust to be in Mission: Impossible’s farewell.
Mission Impossible’s final scene could confirm Ilsa Faust is still alive
Fans online have compared the final shot of Ethan Hunt in Final Reckoning with a shot of Ilsa Faust walking away from the camera in Fallout, and are convinced the woman next to Hunt in the former is Faust herself.
As Hunt blends into the crowd in Trafalgar Square, London, a woman with similar hair to Faust briefly appears alongside him. For some, that’s more than enough evidence to suggest she didn’t actually die at all.
“I wasn’t feeling this at first (and I defo left the theater thinking it’s Grace) but… hmmm…. You may have something there,” one fan replied to the comparison on X/Twitter.
Another added, “Tom Cruise… we need confirmation!” while a third weighed in, “Ask McQ about this scene and I bet he starts smiling, he knows exactly what he was doing. Grace had already walked away and this mystery lady is wearing a different jacket and baggy pants from Grace. She was walking directly next to Ethan in frame, wasn’t an accident.”
However, earlier interviews with director Christopher McQuarrie suggest there was no way Faust was ever being brought back for the final movie. Speaking to the Happy Sad Confused podcast, he explained, “It’s the cost versus benefit. The death of essential characters has followed Ethan throughout every one of these movies.
“I don’t think up until that point a character that resonated so deeply with the audience had died, and I know there were people who were dissatisfied with the way it happened, which is where I thought that wouldn’t motivate me to undo the one thing that gives Mission: Impossible teeth, which is death is permanent.”
For others, the potential Easter eggs don’t go far enough. “I know Christopher McQuarrie is in this shot but am I crazy for thinking they snuck Vanessa Kirby in there too right in front of him? It could just be a random blonde but likeeee,” another responded.
There has been no official comment from any of the Mission: Impossible team about Faust’s potential inclusion in the final scene.
If you’ve seen the film, check out our breakdown of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’s ending and our interview with Hayley Atwell.
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