While many recognize him as the MCU’s Hawkeye today, actor Jeremy Renner quickly transitioned into another significant action franchise just months after his MCU debut. His performance in 2011’s Mission : Impossible – Ghost Protocol solidified his reputation as an action hero, laying the groundwork for his legacy as both Hawkeye and an action star in the years to come.
In this film, he portrays William Brandt, a character from the Mission : Impossible series who truly deserves more screen time, yet sadly, he never reached his full potential within the most renowned and largest action franchise in Hollywood history.
A year later, just months after his memorable return as Hawkeye in The Avengers (2012), Renner appeared in yet another well-known action movie franchise from the 2000s. The Jason Bourne series was revived with The Bourne Legacy in 2012, but sadly, it did not fully leverage the potential that Jeremy Renner offered as the new lead.
Although Renner reprised his role in another Mission : Impossible film in 2015, both the Bourne and Mission : Impossible franchises did not make the most of his talents as an action star and actor.
The Mission : Impossible Series Did Not Capitalize On Jeremy Renner’s Potential
The main reason to watch a Mission : Impossible film is to witness Tom Cruise’s character, Ethan Hunt, narrowly escaping death while he travels the globe in pursuit of successfully accomplishing his latest mission. The fact that Cruise executes his own stunts, frequently without safety harnesses and without a backup crew to assist him, enhances the experience, amplifying the adrenaline rush that audiences feel while enjoying these films.
Over the years, the franchise has brought in several other characters who are skilled in combat and parkour. While none can quite compare to Ethan Hunt, their contributions have been vital to Hunt’s success in various missions.
One notable character is William Brandt, portrayed by Jeremy Renner. Brandt is an IMF field agent who has chosen to step back from field operations, believing that his recklessness led to the death of Ethan’s wife, Julia.
Although Brandt may appear a bit out of practice, he still possesses his abilities, and while there are only a handful of moments where he demonstrates his prowess as an action star, Renner infuses the franchise with a weary charm as Brandt.
While he has a greater number of action sequences in Mission : Impossible – Ghost Protocol, featuring an audacious stunt set piece, he takes on an even more secondary role in Mission : Impossible – Rogue Nation. The former could have certainly gained from additional action scenes for Brandt, but the latter ultimately feels like a missed opportunity to showcase Renner’s skills as an action hero.
Renner delivers some of the funniest moments in the Mission : Impossible series, particularly in Rogue Nation, where he repeatedly tells the board that he cannot share any operational details without the IMF secretary’s consent, all while being fully aware that the position is currently unfilled.
His acting skills shine as he portrays a jittery field agent and a neurotic foil to Ethan’s bold optimism in both films. Nevertheless, one can’t help but think that both movies could have provided him with more screen time. Although Renner had his own motivations for departing from the Mission : Impossible franchise, he has shown a desire to come back to it on several occasions since.
William Brandt was among the top contenders for characters that fans hoped would reappear in Mission : Impossible – The Final Reckoning, but that did not happen. From his humorous nature and unforgettable vault leap in Ghost Protocol, to his courtroom moments in Rogue Nation and his limited fight scenes, we must come to terms with the fact that the franchise offered us so little of Brandt.
Renner Should Have Remained In Both Series As A Supporting Character
One of the leading contenders to take over Tom Cruise’s role in Mission : Impossible was Jeremy Renner. Although there has only been speculation that the production team aimed to present William Brandt as a younger iteration of Ethan Hunt, potentially to succeed him, no official confirmation has ever been provided.
Nevertheless, it is quite clear, considering that each film showcases various IMF agents with comparable abilities, that Brandt certainly has a role on Ethan’s team, even if he is not intended to take Hunt’s place. In a similar vein, Aaron Cross’s life is a direct result of Project Treadstone and its follow-up, Project Blackbriar.
He and Bourne would have made excellent partners. The contrasting traits of Aaron Cross and Jason Bourne render them complementary agents, capable of collaborating effectively as a team. While Cross may not excel in stealth, he compensates with remarkable resilience and physical strength.
Conversely, although Bourne may fall short in perception and sensory awareness, he excels in evasion. A collaboration between Jason Bourne and Aaron Cross would realize the aspirations of numerous fans, as they epitomize the dual aspects of the same coin.
Bourne embodies a creation of the system, labeled a rogue agent by his country for his unwillingness to allow the government’s secret operations to destroy lives. In contrast, Cross is a more direct product of the system, having been injected with viruses that permanently augment his senses and mental resilience.
Positioned on opposing ends of the project, their alliance would significantly aid in dismantling the system. In a similar vein, rather than keeping him in the courtroom for the majority of Mission : Impossible – Rogue Nation, the franchise ought to have explored opportunities to place Brandt in the field more frequently, working alongside Ethan Hunt.
Renner was never meant to take Cruise’s place, and the franchise’s enduring legacy serves as ample evidence of that, yet this doesn’t imply that featuring more action sequences with Renner would have been a poor choice. Leveraging Renner’s talents to establish him as a reliable sidekick to Hunt would have been the perfect approach.
Reasons Behind Jeremy Renner’s Limited Appearances In Mission : Impossible & Bourne Films
Jeremy Renner departed from the Mission : Impossible franchise following the release of 2015’s Rogue Nation, as he wished to prioritize his family and dedicate more time to his children. The Mission : Impossible films are known for their exceptional action sequences and intricate set designs, making them incredibly demanding in terms of both time commitment and physical exertion.
Jeremy Renner recognized that stepping away was necessary to create space for his family. After the unsuccessful soft reboot, Matt Damon’s comeback to the franchise successfully drew in audiences and rekindled interest in the series, which meant that Renner was not invited back to the Bourne franchise.
Additionally, Jason Bourne has achieved streaming success on HBO today; however, even after several years since its debut, there has been no official announcement regarding a sequel. The lack of intrigue surrounding Aaron Cross was a factor in Renner’s decision not to reprise his role in Jason Bourne.
For a decade, Jeremy Renner has portrayed a significant supporting character in the MCU, starting with his cameo in 2011’s Thor and continuing through to 2021’s Hawkeye. Therefore, even if he had the desire, finding the time required for a demanding film like Mission : Impossible would have been unfeasible.
Additionally, he faced a tragic accident and a life-threatening situation in December 2023 when a snowplow struck him. Consequently, even if there was mutual interest, his return for Mission : Impossible – The Final Reckoning was simply not possible.