Simon Pegg, of course, isn’t happy about the fact that Benji may die. In the video interview, he pointed out that Benji has been a part of his life for many years. But also that, because of the nature of the “Mission: Impossible” movies, he knows the mission may eventually come first, despite certain characters’ insistence to the contrary. Luther has a line of dialogue in “Dead Reckoning” where he reminds Ethan that, as IMF agents, their lives are expendable. Ethan insists that is not acceptable. Pegg knows the truth though. He said:
“I think that’s something that has always been the case but no more, sort of, clear is it in these stories that we — as I think Luther says -– we don’t matter as much as the mission, and any one of us at any time could face the end. And if that happened, I’d be sad. He’s been in my life for 17 years. I’ve watched him, been him, growing up, becoming an older and more mature agent, and it’s kind of a … they live a sort of tragic life in a way.”
Benji dying for the sake of the mission would indeed be tragic, as he has come a long way from the nervous, affable fellow seen in “Mission: Impossible III.” He went from having a normal life to being a noble shadow, willing to die to protect Earth from evil spies and terrorists. It would, of course, be the noble, brave, and heroic thing to do, but it seems that Benji doesn’t exist outside of missions.
With the release of “Dead Reckoning, Part Two,” currently aiming for a June 28, 2024 premiere, fans may have to steel themselves for some heady losses and sad moments.