9 Abandoned Sequel Plots That Sound Better Than The Movies We Got

9. Joe Carnahan's Mission: Impossible III

The original brief for the Mission: Impossible series was that each instalment would have a new director, and they'd bring their own distinct style to it. Brian De Palma and John Woo created two vastly different movies with their entries, and original M:I III helmer Joe Carnahan aimed to do something unique with his version. His idea was to make a grounded, realistic take on the spy franchise.

Kenneth Branagh was due to play a creepy terrorist, Scarlett Johannson would have played Cruise’s apprentice and the plot would have been a paranoid thriller involving private military groups and a coup in Africa. Apparently, it also would have featured two of the most shocking mask reveals in the series.

Carnahan’s gritty approach clashed with the studio, and another writer was brought on to gloss things up. This prompted the director to leave after a year working on it, leaving room for JJ Abrams to helm the rather bland third entry that was eventually made.