Here’s some news that blasted in on a pair of exploding sunglasses fired out of a rocket: Ethan Hunt is back. Ever since last year’s pulse-pounding Mission: Impossible entry Dead Reckoning, audiences have been left wondering how Tom Cruise’s IMF agent will take down the nefarious AI algorithm known as The Entity – and since that film (originally titled Dead Reckoning Part 1) only told half the story, we’ve all been on tenterhooks to see what’s to come in Part 2. Now, we know that it’ll arrive under the title Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. But does that just mean the ‘final’ part of this particular story? Or will it be, as much rumoured, the end of Cruise’s Mission: Impossible saga? Watch the trailer here for clues:

Blimey. The Mission movies never disappoint, and The Final Reckoning looks no different – just, this time, it seems to be the fate of the entire world in Ethan Hunt’s hands. There’s some breathtaking imagery from that long-teased biplane chase (the shot where Cruise is dangling from the spinning wing is astonishing). Plus, we see more of the submarine shenanigans established in Dead Reckoning; plenty of ominous talk of sacrifice and saying goodbye; and, yes, Cruise runs. A lot. Notably, through London at night, which looks gorgeous. Would it be a Mission movie without a considerable amount of cardio? There are some enticing team shots here, too – Hayley Atwell’s thief-turned-agent Grace is back, as is Pom Klementieff’s assassin Paris; Greg Tarzan Davis’ Intelligence agent Degas; and, of course, Ving Rhames’ Luther and Simon Pegg’s Benji. There’s no doubt about it, Ethan – we’re willing to trust you, one last time. Here’s the film’s monochromatic poster:

Oh, and note that much of the footage here sees Ethan Hunt donning the outfit that Cruise wore when he abseiled from the roof at the Olympics this summer. Was that daredevil stunt designed to be built into The Final Reckoning? If so, that would be extremely Tom Cruise.

Either way, this one looks thrilling – and should, hopefully, deliver a rip-roaring conclusion to Christopher McQuarrie’s two-parter. And, perhaps, a conclusion to Ethan Hunt. Gasp! We’ll find out when Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning hits UK cinemas on 23 May. Light the fuse!