If a future sequel revealed that Cruise was, in fact, turned into a stain on the wall of the tunnel and an alien has been masquerading as him ever since, it would be less ludicrous to me than Jim Phelps turning out to be a mole. I read that Peter Graves, who played Phelps in the TV series, turned down an offer to reprise his role when he learned of that plot twist.
If a future sequel revealed that Cruise was, in fact, turned into a stain on the wall of the tunnel and an alien has been masquerading as him ever since, it would be less ludicrous to me than Jim Phelps turning out to be a mole. I read that Peter Graves, who played Phelps in the TV series, turned down an offer to reprise his role when he learned of that plot twist.