Why Mission: Impossible Upset the Original TV Cast So Much

Tom Cruise has always aimed to create movies that appeal to the broadest possible audience. He’s known for steering clear of studio meddling and keeping creative control firmly in his own hands. While not every project has been a home run—just look at The Mummy —his approach is to stick to his vision, collaborating with directors and actors who often praise his openness and willingness to listen. But even the most successful franchises can ruffle feathers, and for some of the original Mission: Impossible TV cast, Cruise’s blockbuster series was a step too far.

Backlash from the Original Stars

When the first Mission: Impossible film hit theaters, it didn’t just launch a new era of action movies—it also sparked outrage among the stars who brought the original TV show to life. The film series, which has now grossed nearly $5 billion, shares little with the classic show beyond the IMF ’s impossible missions and Lalo Schifrin’s unforgettable theme. For Peter Graves, who played Jim Phelps on TV, the movie ’s decision to turn his character into a villain was a personal affront.

“I am sorry that they chose to call him Phelps,”

he said, frustrated that the filmmakers didn’t simply write his character out with a respectful sendoff.

“They could have solved that very easily by either having me in a scene in the very beginning, or reading a telegram from me saying, ‘Hey boys, I’m retired, gone to Hawaii. Thank you, goodbye, you take over now.'”

Disappointment Runs Deep

Martin Landau, who played Rollin Hand, was equally unimpressed with the direction the movies took. The decision to kill off most of the original team in the opening act of the first film left him cold.

“I was against that,”

he told MTV.

“Why volunteer to essentially have our characters commit suicide? I passed on it. I said, ‘It’s crazy to do this’. The script wasn’t that good either!”

Barbara Bain, known as Cinnamon Carter in the show’s early seasons, refused to even watch the movies. She felt the films had

“nothing to do with the show,”

and dismissed Cruise’s high-octane stunts as

“a one-man thing, not a team,”

adding that a cameo in the franchise

“wasn’t of interest to me one way or the other.”

Blockbuster Success Despite Criticism

Despite the disapproval from the original cast, the Mission: Impossible movies have become some of the most successful action films of the 21st century. Directors like Brad Bird and Christopher McQuarrie have delivered entries that are widely regarded as top-tier blockbusters. While the TV show and the movies may only share a name and a few basic elements, Cruise’s vision has clearly resonated with audiences worldwide. The original stars may not have been fans, but their criticism did little to slow the franchise’s momentum.