While in his engagement party with doctor Julia, the IMF agent, Ethan Hunt, is invited to a rescue mission of his former protégée. Agent Lindsey Farris was trained by him but has been kidnapped by the evil dealer, Owen Davian. Ethan accepts the assignment and rescues Lindsey with his team, but she is killed by a bomb that has been implanted in her head. Ethan finds that Owen will be in the Vatican and he joins his group to abduct him. They succeeded in their mission, but back in USA they are betrayed, Owen is released by his team and he abducts Julia, bringing her to Shanghai. Owen contacts Ethan and forces him to steal a powerful weapon in order to save the life of Julia.

Carrie-Anne Moss was offered a role after Tom Cruise was impressed with her work in Suspect Zero (2004), which Cruise produced. When Joe Carnahan left the project, and J.J. Abrams took the reigns, her character was dropped from the film entirely.

Owen Davian:
Who are you? What's you're name? Do you have a wife? A girlfriend? Because if you do, I'm gonna find her. I'm gonna hurt her. I'm gonna make her bleed, and cry, and call out your name. And then I'm gonna find you,and kill you right in front of her.

Crew or equipment visible: Camera operator visible in far left corner of Ethan's sunglasses at the funeral service.

by Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers
Performed by Sister Sledge
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing