Mission: Impossible III

Ethan has left the field to train new IMF agents. He's engaged to Julia, who has no idea what he really does. When his former trainee Lindsey Farris is captured by arms dealer Owen Davian, Ethan rescues her in Berlin, but she dies from a bomb implanted in her head. Ethan marries Julia in a hurry and captures Davian at the Vatican, but Davian is freed on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and kidnaps Julia. The ransom is the Rabbit's Foot, which Ethan steals in Shanghai. Davian plants a bomb in Ethan's head. The traitor turns out to be IMF director John Musgrave, Davian's partner. Ethan kills Davian, disables the bomb with an electric shock, and Julia kills Musgrave. The couple leaves on their honeymoon, and the Rabbit's Foot stays a mystery.

1. Behind the scenesJ. J. Abrams's debut

   It was J. J. Abrams's first feature as director. Cruise offered him the job after watching the first two seasons of Alias.

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2. Behind the scenesTwo directors before Abrams

   David Fincher was attached in 2002 and left over creative differences. Joe Carnahan replaced him and quit too, in July 2004.

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3. Behind the scenesEnter Benji Dunn

   Simon Pegg debuts as Benji Dunn, the IMF tech. He auditioned back when Carnahan was still set to direct.

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4. ReferenceNo Rollin Hand

   Martin Landau, master of disguise Rollin Hand on the TV series, turned down a cameo. He didn't like where the franchise had gone.

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5. SetupWhat is the Rabbit's Foot?

   The film never explains what the Rabbit's Foot is, the object everyone is chasing. Remember the name: it comes back later.

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