The Next Ethan Hunt? How About John Barrowman

By MICHAEL HINMANSource: SyFy PortalApr-05-2007

With Tom Cruise finding some new couches to jump on and J.J. Abrams spending all his free time working on the next Star Trek movie, one has to wonder: What's going to happen with Paramount's Mission: Impossible franchise?
OK, maybe you aren't thinking that. I mean, "Mission: Impossible III" was a pretty decent movie, and a good followup to the first two films. But audiences were pretty cool to the film as there was hardly a crowd lined up waiting to see it when it first came out.
I wasn't there, either. I think I was getting my hair cut that weekend or something. However, I did finally watch the film on pay per view recently, and was impressed enough to hope that Paramount at some point would make another one.
Yes, I know. Why on Earth would I waste my time thinking about that, and further more, what the hell does any of this have to do with science-fiction? A lot, actually. M:I is not sci-fi itself, but humor me for a minute.
If Paramount were to kick M:I back into gear, there would have to be a major recasting, and it would have to be good. The first three movies had strong star power in the form of Cruise, so the studio would have to choose carefully. To use a Batman analogy, they would want to find a Christian Bale, not a George Clooney, to replace Michael Keaton. And in watching "M:I 3" I think I know who would be perfect for the role. You know him as Capt. Jack in "Doctor Who" and "Torchwood," but for me, I can only think of John Barrowman as Ethan Hunt.
Sure, Barrowman is hardly the star here (or even in England) that Cruise is, but he certainly has that Cruise look about him. He also is very charismatic and handles stunt action well. And if Hunt ever had to sing his way out of a jam, Barrowman would be ready to exercise that baritone voice of his to perfection.
I am a tremendous John Barrowman fan, and I would like to see Hollywood take note of his talent. I mean, he's no Oscar nominee (not yet, anyway), but he has many of the qualities that could help him own the role.
Barrowman has perfect timing to balance seriousness and humor. He is mostly an unknown in many places, and he has some similar features to Cruise, so many people may not even look twice. And, for Gallifrey's sake, he's Capt. Jack. I say that both affectionately, and with a hint of worry. Barrowman is running into a potential problem where he could be typecast as the time-traveling part-time companion of The Doctor. He is going to need to find roles that allow him to continue playing Capt. Jack, but also show a diversity that is needed for Hollywood survival. And I think Barrowman taking on Ethan Hunt in a Mission: Impossible film would be just the ticket.
And no, I don't think it's a waste of talent at all. It's not like I'm asking Paramount to cast Matt Damon as Capt. Kirk or anything.