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J. J. Abrams may bring back Peter Graves for M:I 4
J.J. Abrams was shocked to learn that original Mission Impossible TV series star Peter Graves was interested in a part in the movie series. Three film adaptations have gone by without him, but now that Abrams is developing a fourth, Graves' representatives have reached out to the producer/director.
"I just got a call that Peter Graves is in great shape, which would be a very bizarre bend in the space-time continuum, for obvious reasons," Abrams said in a press conference in Santa Monica, Calif., on Oct. 8, where he was promoting Star Trek on DVD.
Jon Voight played Jim Phelps in Brian De Palma's Mission: Impossible, in a plot that strayed from the canon of the TV series. In addition to addressing whether Graves would be a version of Phelps, Abrams would also have to address his comedy legacy as Captain Oveur in the Airplane movies.
"I almost feel like you could make him serious again and bring him back," Abrams said.
Abrams brought Leonard Nimoy back as Spock Prime in his Star Trek reboot. Nimoy also played Paris on the Mission: Impossible TV series, so Abrams has an "in" with two series favorites.
"Whether it's Nimoy, who I have an incredible affinity for, or Graves, or anyone, we'll see."
As director of Mission: Impossible III, Abrams had reached out to Martin Landau, who played Rollin Hand in the original series. So he's been open to including original cast members since he took over the series.
"I actually tried to get Martin Landau in Mission 3, in a very small little moment just for fun, and was told that he had no interest in doing it," Abrams shared. "But then, when I met him after the movie came out, it was the greatest thing. We were at this restaurant in New York, for one of the TV up-front parties, and someone introduced me to Landau. They took me over and Martin Landau came over to me, extended his hand and [pretended to lift his face off]. That was the greatest thing I'd ever seen."
Abrams has signed to produce the fourth Mission: Impossible with Tom Cruise. He has not announced whether he would direct it.
By jolinar at 11:56 AM ON 10/09/09
The character was killed in the first one, I think.
By Lazlo at 12:06 PM ON 10/09/09
But Graves was the epitome of "Phelps" NOT Voight. And the idea that Phelps would betray country and friends for a measly $7M was ludicrous - his MI budgets had to cost more than that on several occasions. Sigh. Bring Peter Graves back as the "real" Mr. Phelps, which he should have been in the first movie.
Retired and with some insight/insider info for Hunt. Now, that would be cool.
By Richard S. Drake at 12:06 PM ON 10/09/09
But wait! What if it was an imposter - as I have always hoped!
By Just Me at 12:25 PM ON 10/09/09
Your mission Mr. Graves, if you decide to accept it, is to infiltrate the Abrams Hollywood juggernaut. As usual, original series fans will disavow any knowledge of your actions. This post will self-destruct in five seconds...
By Clinton at 12:37 PM ON 10/09/09
They would have to fix the wrong they did to the Jim Phelps character in the first movie. Sure, it was shocking, but the thought that Phelps would turn evil so undermined the character that it was a hollow plot twist.
By Alan at 12:58 PM ON 10/09/09
Not that I have anything against Tom Cruise, but I would love a storyline where Tom gets his butt kicked by Peter Graves. It's about time the movie series' changed back from "The Tom Cruise Extravaganza (aka mission impossible... whatever)" and back into "Mission: Impossible Like You Remember But Better"
By Alan at 1:01 PM ON 10/09/09
Oh! and make the rest of the MI team matter!! I'm sick of seeing that they're just getting in the way and Ethan Hunt has to rescue the mission from the team's bumbling.
By Daniel at 1:07 PM ON 10/09/09
Real cool if Barbara Bain could make a cameo!
By Matt at 1:09 PM ON 10/09/09
with the exception of Nimoy, I wasn't aware that there were any surviving cast members of the original show!
By VJW at 1:41 PM ON 10/09/09
I always thought it was a mistake not to have Peter Graves play Jim Phelps in MI:1 and it was blasphemy to make Phelps the bad guy!
Bringing as many of the original cast members as possible would be very welcome. I might even go see MI:4. (I didn't bother with MI:3 after Tom Cruise went nutso and had his mid-life crisis.)
By Just Me at 1:45 PM ON 10/09/09
"With the exception of Nimoy, I wasn't aware that there were any surviving cast members of the original show!"
Peter Graves as Jim Phelps
Greg Morris as Barney Collier
Peter Lupus as Willy Armitage
Barbara Bain as Cinnamon Carter
Martin Landau as Rollin Hand
Leonard Nimoy as Paris
Steven Hill as Daniel Briggs
Lesley Ann Warren as Dana Lambert
Sam Elliott as Dr. Doug Robert
Lynda Day George as Lisa Casey
Barbara Anderson as Mimi Davis
Bob Johnson as Voice on Tape
As far as I can tell from the Internet, only Greg Morris and Bob Johnson are deceased.
By joesocwork at 2:25 PM ON 10/09/09
I made a conscious decision to boycott Tom Cruise & ego movies when they made decision to make Jim Phelps the bad guy in the first MI movie By all means, even if rolls back the events of the first movie, have Peter Graves and members of the team come back. And let it be about a team of spys engaging in fantastic con games instead of an egocentric American playing James Bond!
By Alverant at 2:41 PM ON 10/09/09
Just as long as they make an joke about his role in the MST3K classic episode "parts: the clonus horror"
By Sheep Farm at 2:43 PM ON 10/09/09
The movie and the TV series have no relation. If you cross this line, the mission to fix the mess created will be impossible.
Bring Peter Graves back, and the 6th installment will no appear.
By ghostmoth at 3:08 PM ON 10/09/09
Please make it a TEAM again. I was forced to watch #1 on a plane, horrified as Mr. Ego first had his team killed off then made Phelps the bad guy. Why even call it M:I? The show was about all those seemingly random things they all did and how it connected. If Tom Cruise wanted to play James Bond get a new franchise.
By patrulje at 4:05 PM ON 10/09/09
If you want a nice twist at least three of the original cast have children who are actors: Juliet Landau
Phil Morris
As a new crop of spies having input from their parents or having their parents be threatened as leverage would be a way to get original cast. Or even an old mission that has resurfaced and more information is needed that only the original team can provide.
By PeterGraves at 4:42 PM ON 10/09/09
If anyone can, JJ Abrams can.
By Uwaine at 9:19 AM ON 10/10/09
patrulje-
Excellent point. And don't forget that Phil Morris co-starred in the 1980's continuation of MI, playing Barney Collier's son.
So they could very easily bring him back in that role.
By Rom2099 at 4:18 PM ON 10/10/09
Phil Morris, the son of Greg Morris, played the character's son the the 80s re-vamp TV series "Mission Impossible" with Graves reprising his Phelps roll there.
It would be very cool for Barney's son (Phil Morris) to get a little (big)screen time.
Landau (or at least Rollin Hand) was the perfect choice for the disgruntled character in the first movie (not Phelps') since Nimoy left the series in a huff back in the 60s/70s. It would have been appropriate to made him the one trying to destroy the IMF.
Bring back as many originals as you can.
Make the movie more like a Mission Impossible film with a TEAM -- not just Tom Cruise.
By tati at 7:52 PM ON 10/10/09
Juilet Landau = Druscilla from BUFFY! (or is it Drusilla?)
By jolinar at 12:03 AM ON 10/12/09
Mission: Impossible 4 Time Travel Edition
By Iso at 12:28 PM ON 10/12/09
Peter Graves has got to be about 200 years old now. He had a good run in the original MI series in the 60s, and in the sequel series in the late 80s, but he should leave the films alone and walk away with his dignity. These films are the most appalling tripe and not even such stunt casting could make them more interesting. I imagine that the majority of the people who go to see the MI films go for Tom Cruise or for the ridiculous stunts they have in them. I think 99% of that audience wouldn't even know who Peter Graves is.
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Iso:
Peter Graves has got to be about 200 years old now. He had a good run in the original MI series in the 60s, and in ...More »