Think Mission: Impossible and your mind will likely wander to one of Tom Cruise’s many death-defying stunts. Beyond the rope climbs and skydives, however, is a beating, pulsing heart at the centre of the franchise – anchored by Ving Rhames’ Luther.
The computer whizz has appeared in every single Mission: Impossible movie to date and is, inexplicably, still one of its most underappreciated characters. Alongside Benji (Simon Pegg), he is the glue that holds the IMF together, a level-headed presence that reins Ethan in when required but, conversely, fires him up when the going gets tough.
Yes, Cruise’s daredevil antics may have propelled the franchise into the upper echelons of action cinema but, make no mistake, we wouldn’t care as much if his bromance with Luther didn’t operate as the emotional connective tissue across Mission’s past, present, and future.
Luther is also the series’ Swiss Army Knife, proving equally adept at comedy – his dynamic with Billy Baird in Mission: Impossible 2 elevates some of its driest scenes – or tragedy. Luther peeling back Ethan’s history with Julia in the incredible
Tom Cruise may be the face of Mission: Impossible, but Ving Rhames is its beating heart
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