Rolf Saxon has returned to the Mission: Impossible franchise after nearly 30 years, reprising his role as William Donloe in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Saxon said he initially thought the casting call from Skydance and Tom Cruise was a prank, but the invitation turned out to be real. The unexpected reunion brought him back into a world he first entered with the original 1996 film, creating a full-circle moment for both the actor and longtime fans of the series.
Saxon described the early stage of the casting process as surreal, saying he joined a Zoom meeting with Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie before realizing the project was genuine. What stood out most to him was the warm reception he received on set. He recalled being greeted with “a big hug and a cheer” from the cast and crew, a welcome that contrasted sharply with the uncertainty he felt when the role first came up. The experience, he said, reflected the strong sense of teamwork and enthusiasm surrounding the production.
In the new film, Donloe plays an important role in the story set around the Bering Sea and St. Matthew Island. Now exiled to a remote CIA station, the character helps Ethan Hunt’s team investigate a sunken Russian submarine, adding tension and mystery to the plot. Saxon’s return also strengthens the film’s ties to the franchise’s beginnings, alongside other returning original cast members such as Henry Czerny.
Saxon noted that his relationship with Cruise has evolved since their brief interaction on the first film. This time, he worked more closely with the star and found Cruise’s energy and dedication to be as intense as ever. He said the reunion felt personal and meaningful, almost like reconnecting with family after a long absence. That sense of continuity gives The Final Reckoning extra emotional weight, linking the new installment to the franchise’s early history while pushing the story forward.
For Saxon, the return of William Donloe is both nostalgic and rewarding. For audiences, it serves as a reminder of how Mission: Impossible has balanced fresh action with callbacks to its past across nearly three decades.
