Pom Klementieff is widely recognized by movie fans for her endearing and compassionate portrayal of Mantis in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy films. Mantis, known for her ability to bring joy and a smile to her friends, easily captivates audiences. However, Klementieff is about to embark on a fresh and exciting endeavor in the upcoming movie Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.
In a departure from her usual roles, she will be portraying a villain named Paris, a mysterious character adorned in haunting mime makeup, as revealed in the Dead Reckoning trailers.
Klementieff’s portrayal of a villainous character is a departure from her established on-screen persona, but she thoroughly enjoyed the process of bringing Paris to life. During an interview with Brandon Davis from ComicBook.com, Klementieff shared insights into her creative process in crafting her new Mission: Impossible villain.
Crafting a Collaborative and Dynamic Character
She expressed great excitement and enjoyment in the process of creating her character, stating, “So much fun. I had so much fun creating the character.” What she found particularly enjoyable was the fact that the character wasn’t initially written on paper. Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise, known for their collaborative approach, cast the actor first and then developed the character based on the actor’s abilities and extensive conversations they had. Initially, the character had no defined traits, but as they progressed, numerous ideas and additions emerged through her contributions.
One such idea was the distinctive makeup worn by the character in Venice, featuring white foundation and a teardrop design. Instead of using a physical mask like other characters, Klementieff thought it would be amusing to draw a mask on her face, symbolizing her rebellious nature and disregard for conventions. She wanted her character to appear slightly odd, mocking the whole notion of wearing masks.
Furthermore, Pom Klementieff envisioned the makeup to have a melancholic and thuggish look, with the intention of it gradually smudging and dripping during intense fights, ultimately transforming her into a monstrous figure. These were just a few of the many ideas generated during the highly collaborative process with the creative team.
Pom Klementieff further elaborated on the collaborative nature of the project, expressing how receptive and supportive the team was to her ideas. They actively engaged in the process, offering suggestions and building upon each other’s concepts. The entire experience proved to be a fruitful and rewarding collaboration.

The Future of the Mission: Impossible Franchise
The narrative of Dead Reckoning unfolds across two parts, with the release of the first installment scheduled for this summer, while the second part is planned for release in the following year. However, due to delays caused by the ongoing WGA strike, it remains uncertain whether the second film will meet its intended release date. Pom Klementieff is set to appear in both parts of Dead Reckoning.Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One marks the return of Tom Cruise as the iconic character Ethan Hunt.
The film, directed by Christopher McQuarrie, is set to hit theaters on July 12th. This installment signals the beginning of the end for the action-packed franchise, as Cruise once again teams up with McQuarrie to deliver death-defying stunts and awe-inspiring moments. Alongside Hunt, the film features the return of his allies Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames), and Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg). Together, they embark on a mission to locate a dangerous new weapon capable of causing catastrophic destruction.
Joining the cast for this latest Mission: Impossible adventure are actors Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, and Esai Morales. The franchise is set to conclude with Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two.