In the original plan, at the end of the film, . The plan was to pass the torch to Jeremy Renner's Brandt as the new lead agent. This explains why the final act in the script feels like a conclusive resolution to Ethan's journey. However, when Cruise decided he was not ready to retire the character, McQuarrie rewrote the ending to keep Ethan in the field.
The film opens with Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his team, including Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) and Jane Carter (Paula Patton), on a mission to stop a rogue agent, Viktor Kozlov (Michael McMillian), from obtaining a nuclear reactor core in the Kremlin. The team infiltrates the Kremlin, but things go awry, and they're forced to improvise.
Ethan wakes up in the rubble. Russian Special Forces are swarming. The Kremlin is destroyed. The Russians blame the IMF. Ethan escapes, but not before seeing a transmission from the IMF Secretary.
According to Bird, the script went through major changes even after filming began. Some early scenes, which can be found on the Blu-ray release as deleted scenes, had to be reshot as the plot's direction became clearer. This fluid process explains the film's lean, propulsive feel—it was a story built and refined on its feet, focusing on character and momentum over a rigidly pre-planned narrative. mission impossible ghost protocol script
He grabs a magnetic climbing pad and latches onto the missile’s hull. 20 seconds to impact. He rips open a panel, finds the guidance computer, and using a tablet Benji tosses from a helicopter. The missile veers off course… into the Siberian tundra.
Unlike previous Mission: Impossible films that focused heavily on Tom Cruise’s solo heroism, the Ghost Protocol script deliberately distributes the narrative load among an ensemble of misfits. Simon Pegg’s Benji Dunn is upgraded from a technician to a field agent, providing comic relief that lowers tension only to spike it again. Paula Patton’s Jane Carter is given a revenge subplot (killing the assassin Sabine Moreau) that, crucially, fails—she hesitates, and the mission is compromised. This is a bold writing choice; it shows that personal vendettas are liabilities in espionage. Jeremy Renner’s Brandt serves as the audience’s surrogate skeptic, questioning Hunt’s recklessness. The script’s greatest subtlety is Brandt’s backstory: he was Hunt’s protector on a previous mission where Hunt’s wife was killed (a fake death, as later revealed). This emotional history, delivered in a quiet train car conversation, is the thematic heart of the film. It argues that survival in this world requires not just physical prowess, but the ability to accept collateral damage and move forward—a lesson Brandt learns by the climax.
The script features a diverse and talented cast, including: In the original plan, at the end of the film,
The success of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol paved the way for future installments in the franchise, including Rogue Nation and Fallout. The series has continued to evolve and adapt, with new characters and plot twists being introduced in each film.
The script for Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol received widespread critical acclaim, with many praising the film's well-crafted action sequences and engaging storyline. The film holds a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with many critics praising Tom Cruise's performance and the film's impressive stunts.
The genius of the Ghost Protocol script lies in its inciting incident and central hook. Previous films in the series relied on Ethan Hunt being the best agent with the best gadgets and the full backing of the Impossible Mission Force (IMF). The script flips this premise entirely. However, when Cruise decided he was not ready
Transitions from a desk-bound tech analyst to a field agent, providing comedic relief balanced with genuine bravery.
: The script uniquely highlights team members who are all technically "broken" or inexperienced: a newly promoted field agent (Benji Dunn), a handler seeking revenge (Jane Carter), and a haunted analyst with a secret past (William Brandt). Key Script Elements & Stunt Integration
The Kremlin is bombed. The IMF is blamed. The US President initiates "Ghost Protocol," disavowing the entire agency. Act II: The Confrontation