Tom Cruise and Henry Cavill Reportedly on For ‘Broadsword’

The World War II movie is co-written and will be directed by Cruise’s regular collaborator Christopher McQuarrie, who is at work on the next ‘Mission’ movie.

(Left) Tom Cruise attends the Abu Dhabi Red Carpet and Premiere of 'Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One' presented by Paramount Pictures and Skydance at Emirates Palace Hotel on June 26, 2023, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Photo by Darren Arthur/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures. (Center) Henry Cavill is Agent Argylle in 'Argylle,' directed by Matthew Vaughn. (Right) Marion Cotillard in 'Extrapolations,' premiering March 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.

Preview:

Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill and Marion Cotillard may star in ‘Broadsword’.
It’s a World War II movie developed by ‘Mission: Impossible’ co-writer/director Christopher McQuarrie.
It may shoot before or after Cruise works with Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu.

While Tom Cruise and writer/director Christopher McQuarrie are still deep in finishing their latest ‘Mission: Impossible’ movie (for the record, that would be the eighth in the franchise, the follow-up to last year’s ‘Dead Reckoning’ and one that has seen its release date pushed several times for various reasons), they also have one eye on the future and collaborations outside of the world of Ethan Hunt and the IMF.

Once McQuarrie has finished getting the next ‘Mission’ movie in shape for its May 2025 release, it appears he’s ready to switch things up while still having Cruise star.

The filmmaker has been putting together a new script, set in World War II, with ‘Dead Reckoning’/eighth ‘Mission’ co-writer Erik Jendresen, and according to World of Reel, it’s called ‘Broadsword’.

Following the Cruise news, we have word from regular movie scooper Daniel Richtman that Henry Cavill and Marion Cotillard are in talks to join him. Cavill, of course, appeared alongside the actor in 2018’s ‘Mission: Impossible –– Fallout’.

What’s the story of ‘Broadsword’?

Henry Cavill in 'The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare'. Photo: Daniel Smith.

The new movie is reportedly the story of an S.O.E. (Special Operations Executive, an underground army battling the enemy in Europe and Asia) operation in World War II. It follows a marine captain who crashes in France and becomes the sole survivor. Against all odds, he must complete his mission amidst the chaos of war.

Cavill, of course, has some experience with covert World War II operations thanks to starring in this year’s ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’ for director Guy Ritchie. Cotillard, meanwhile appeared in ‘Allied,’ and Cruise in 'Valkyrie', which McQuarrie wrote.

What has McQuarrie said about the movie?

Christopher McQuarrie, writer and director of 'Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One.'

Speaking on one of several mammoth Empire Spoiler Special podcasts for the release of ‘Dead Reckoning’, this is what McQuarrie said about the new movie:

“There’s a movie that Cruise and I are talking about doing next or in some probable next, that Erik and I developed together –– what has been referred to on the internet as ‘The Gnarly Movie’. It’s that movie that they're all asking for, and that we want to do.”

When can we expect ‘Broadsword’ to shoot?

Tom Cruise plays Capt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in 'Top Gun: Maverick' from Paramount Pictures, Skydance and Jerry Bruckheimer Films.

It’s anyone’s guess at this point, though Production Weekly, ‘Broadsword’ will shoot next year. Cruise has been in talks with ‘Birdman’ Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu to star in his next movie, so it’s possible that will happen next, followed by ‘Broadsword’. And if recent chatter from Glen Powell is to be believed, there is a looming (though not immediate) start date for another ‘Top Gun’ movie too in our collective future too.

Top Gun 3

Not Yet Rated

Sequel to Top Gun: Maverick (2022) and third entry in the “Top Gun” franchise. Plot TBA. Read the Plot

‘Broadsword’ will be produced and distributed by Warner Bros. under its recent deal with Cruise, so naturally the studio will want to move on this as soon as possible. Does that mean Ethan Hunt and the team taking a break for a while? It certainly could –– but that means we get the chance to miss their crazy action antics.

And let’s not forget that the next ‘Mission’ movie isn’t too far away after all –– it’ll hit theaters on May 23rd next year.