After eight Mission: Impossible installments and a relentless barrage of high-octane spectacle, the claustrophobic wire heist from the original 1996 film remains the franchise’s definitive moment. The scene features IMF agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) suspended mid-air in a pristine, white-walled vault, navigating a lethal security system where the slightest sound or temperature fluctuation could trigger a catastrophe. His mission is complicated by the presence of analyst William Donloe (Rolf Saxon), whose recurring bouts of stomach illness force him to cycle in and out of the room at the worst possible moments.
That stark, tension-filled sequence is etched into cinematic lore. Consequently, audiences were delighted when William Donloe made a surprise reappearance in 2025’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. While Saxon’s role in the debut film was fleeting, it was an inspired touch to weave his character back into the narrative for the franchise’s final chapter.
To mark the 30th anniversary of the original blockbuster, Polygon sat down with Saxon to discuss his experience on the first film and his unexpected return decades later.
“I was a huge fan of the Mission: Impossible series,” Saxon recalls, explaining what drove him to audition. Once cast, he encountered a highly secretive production process: “It was one of those scripts where you weren’t permitted to read the entire story.”
Saxon’s screen time in the original was minimal, mostly consisting of his character’s desperate, ill-fated trips to the restroom. Because he shared so little screen time with Cruise, the filming process was surprisingly detached. “Production took four hours per camera angle, and for most of it, Tom wasn’t even there. I was simply reacting to a computer screen in a vacuum.”
Photo: Paramount Pictures via Everett Collection
Despite the brevity of his scenes, Saxon was struck by Cruise’s commitment. “I watched him pull off that stunt. He only relied on a stunt double when they were calibrating the lighting rigs.”
Given the minor nature of his character, the invitation to return 30 years later initially felt like a practical joke. “I genuinely thought a friend was pulling my leg,” Saxon admits. “My agent sent me notifications about a production company in Europe interested in my availability, and when I heard it was Skydance and Christopher McQuarrie, I assumed my friend in Scotland was orchestrating a prank. I hopped on the Zoom call in a T-shirt with a glass of wine in hand—until I realized it was actually McQuarrie. I put the wine down immediately.”
Saxon’s return was fluid, evolving significantly during the rewrite process. The original plan involved a larger role that was ultimately excised. “There was never a locked script; it kept shifting. We spent two days filming a 14-page sequence that ended up on the cutting room floor.” While drafts included backstories involving his wife, Tapeesa (played by Lucy Tulugarjuk), and an arctic setting, the core arc remained: Donloe, long ago demoted to an arctic weather outpost as penance for his failure, finally crosses paths with Hunt again.
“I secretly hoped I’d get to play the antagonist,” Saxon confesses. “I love playing the villain.” Instead, the film took a warmer turn, showing a Donloe who had found peace and genuine contentment in his exile. “I ended up loving how it played out; it was incredibly sweet.”
Image: Paramount
Reflecting on his experiences across decades, Saxon notes that Cruise remained remarkably consistent. “He’s still the same person,” Saxon reflects. “He is a phenomenal filmmaker. The entire vision for this franchise rests on his shoulders, and that requires an incredibly rare type of dedication.”
Source: Polygon
