Most viewers, when asked to recall the plot of any Mission: Impossible film, tend to remember the death-defying stunts performed by Tom Cruise that year. These films are a mix of thrilling action scenes, chase sequences, and unexpected betrayals. They receive praise for their performances, with a talented ensemble cast portraying likable characters. In the franchise's sixth installment, Henry Cavill's brief role caught the attention of audiences.
Cavill's performance in Mission: Impossible - Fallout made headlines for two reasons unrelated to his character. Firstly, he sported a mustache in the film, and he was adamant about not shaving it for his Justice League reshoots. This resulted in a noticeable CGI upper lip in those scenes, creating a comical effect. Secondly, Cavill's character has a distinctive arm gesture that many interpreted as him flexing his muscles. Although it was likely just a simple action of freeing his fists from his sleeves, this moment has become immortalized in animated GIFs.
Who does Henry Cavill play in Mission: Impossible - Fallout?
Henry Cavill portrays August Walker, the primary antagonist in Mission: Impossible - Fallout. While Walker carries out most of the villainous acts in the film, the true antagonist of the franchise, as usual, is the United States government. Walker's early life remains largely unknown, but he was born on May 5th, 1983 and held a high-ranking position within the CIA. Regarded for his skills as an assassin, the agency frequently utilized him to eliminate high-value targets. Assigned to the CIA's Special Activities Division, Walker partners with Ethan Hunt in the mission to apprehend a terrorist named John Lark. Lark seeks to orchestrate a catastrophic event, eradicating a majority of the world's population and dismantling religion, in order to rebuild society through violent means. However, the revelation surfaces that Walker himself is Lark, possessing exceptional infiltrating abilities and harboring deep resentments towards the United States government. Despite working alongside Ethan Hunt to apprehend his own identity, Walker maintains a remarkably courteous demeanor throughout the franchise. Covertly, Walker aligns himself with the Apostles, a clandestine organization comprised of renegade agents from various international espionage entities. Utilizing the Apostles, Walker endeavors to steal plutonium cores while simultaneously deceiving the IMF's attempts to capture him. Though seemingly polite in most interactions, Walker exhibits a preference for direct confrontation, distinguishing him as the decisive force in contrast to Ethan Hunt's more precise approach. During a skydiving mishap, Hunt rescues Walker's life, establishing a sense of mutual respect between the two. However, Hunt's involvement remains crucial to the realization of Walker's scheme.
Walker spends a significant amount of time persuading both the IMF and other intelligence agencies that Hunt is actually John Lark in disguise. His argument revolves around the notion that the IMF's repeated disavowal and endangerment of Hunt ultimately pushed him to a point of violent retribution. However, when the twist is unveiled, it becomes evident that Walker is essentially talking about himself while describing Hunt's experiences. Despite his deceitful nature, Walker presents a compelling justification. Hunt has been repeatedly betrayed by the very organization he dedicates himself to. In this sense, Walker can be viewed as a somber reflection of Ethan Hunt. Instead of cherishing every life and striving to maintain peace, Walker strives to identify the root cause of conflicts and eradicate them from the outset. The hammer and scalpel metaphor epitomizes their divergent objectives. While Ethan Hunt aims to diagnose issues and meticulously remove them, Walker is the type of individual who prefers to forcefully smash obstacles until they are resolved.
What happens to Henry Cavill’s character?
Hunt and his team manage to deceive Walker into confessing that he is actually John Lark, the leader of the Apostles. To further their plan, they disguise field agent Benji Dunn as Solomon Lane, the leader of the Apostles. However, their plan takes a deadly turn when Walker kills the CIA director, Alan Hunley. Determined to stop Walker, Hunt goes after him, but the terrorist threatens Hunt's estranged wife, making the situation even more dire.
Desperate to carry out his dangerous plan, Walker escapes to Kashmir, where he intends to detonate the plutonium and contaminate the water supply of the world's most densely populated region. Walker believes that this act will force the governments of the world to band together to find a solution. Unwilling to let this happen, Hunt and his team manage to disarm one of the bombs.
However, the final obstacle remains as Hunt must locate Walker to retrieve the detonator. A tense battle ensues, resulting in Walker's demise. In a dramatic climax, he is dragged off a cliff along with an exploding helicopter.
Henry Cavill delivers a brilliantly nuanced performance as a captivating and multifaceted antagonist. The film doesn't delve extensively into his motives or the strategic implications of his actions, but rather focuses on the thrilling action sequences characteristic of this franchise. August Walker emerges as a formidable adversary in this high-octane sixth installment of Mission: Impossible. Regarded as one of the franchise's finest offerings, Mission: Impossible - Fallout showcases Henry Cavill's remarkable talent and magnetic presence, proving he is much more than just a stylish mustache and impressive physique.