The same day word surfaced about the title change of “Dead Reckoning Part Two,” news broke that the “Mission: Impossible 8” release date has been delayed from June 2024 to May 23, 2025. The move, according to The Hollywood Reporter, was prompted by the industry-wide work stoppage because of the SAG-AFTRA strike that began in July — just as work was to resume on the film.
With the delayed release, Paramount Pictures will have more time to figure out a subtitle that best replaces “Dead Reckoning Part Two.” The first two sequels to the 1996 original had numerals in their titles. Subsequent chapters feature subtitles, beginning with “Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol” in 2011.
While some of the responses to Variety’s X post had fun with Paramount’s “Mission: Impossible” naming quandary, some users took to the platform to criticize the shortcomings of the title “Dead Reckoning Part One.”
X user @EricJHovland posted, “Someone at Paramount should have told them that including Part 1 in a film title is a surefire way to suppress its box office potential.” Meanwhile, @Goddess_Maxwell posted, “I enjoyed the first ‘Dead Reckoning.’ But it was a bad idea marketing as a ‘part 1’. Even having a cliffhanger, films can be individually named. ‘Empire Strikes Back’ for example.”
One other issue X users pointed out was the illogical idea of a “Dead Reckoning Part One” film existing with no clear follow-up. In his post, @Pat_Kc wrote, “It’s gonna be awkward in the eventual box set with DEAD RECKONING PART ONE with no part 2.”
