In Mission Impossible Ethan Hunt is always told that a mission is his, 'if he choses to accept it.'  In the films, he always accepts it.  Does that mean he always accepts every mission offered, or do we just have the pleasure of watching the action of those he does accept?  What happens to the missions we don't see?  The ones he doesn't accept?  Is there a 2nd tier of agents those jobs get passed to, without the option of choosing?

I propose a film, or series of films, or a television series, dedicated to following those agents who handle the missions Ethan Hunt felt didn't live up to his celebrity status.  These agents aren't inept, like Johnny English, whose only successes are based on dumb luck.  They are solid, work-a-day agents who aren't superhuman.  Sometimes the crazy things they have to do in the line of duty scare the daylights out of them, yet they reach down deep to find the reserves they need to meet the challenge in a heroic manner, or they find a more grounded, safe method to get the job done.  They may fall down a few times, and it isn't always pretty and sometimes will bring out a few laughs, but get the job done they do...always.  They then return to their desk to wait for the next file folder stamped 'Rejected' to be dropped in front of them.

Think Matt Helm who never gets the girl.  He gets a steady paycheck.

I believe the audience will find it relatable.  While people do love the adrenaline rush provided by Tom Cruise and his actions, I think the average moviegoer will love seeing someone more on their level doing exciting things and saving the world.

Logline: Follow the 2nd tier of the world's finest secret agents as they give their all battling the forces of evil to resolve those cases Ethan Hunt chose not to accept.

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Tone: Light-hearted
Budget: $100MM minimum if you want it to look like it belongs on the same screen as an actual M:I production.

I would watch this - I think it has legs. I'm always a fan of ordinary characters tackling extraordinary things

In the Comedy genre - there is a very slight comp - THE OTHER GUYS.  That may be a good watch for inspiration (note: I did say slight connection).  It's basically about two low level cops doing their jobs as the superhuman cops get all the glamor crimes

Quoted from eldave1 I would watch this - I think it has legs.

That quote alone makes me feel so good.  You have no idea what it means hearing you, Dave, say that!  

Quoted from eldave1 I'm always a fan of ordinary characters tackling extraordinary things.

I hope lots of folks feel that way.  This concept is just SO huge.  I have no idea where to start beyond what I've posted here.  I've searched the internet up and down, and all I came up with is the Titan screenwriting contest, where you can submit to the Pitch category.  I've got the idea (I'm an idea man, Chuck), but I know a full screenplay of the quality required is beyond my capabilities.

Quoted from eldave1 THE OTHER GUYS.  That may be a good watch for inspiration (note: I did say slight connection).  It's basically about two low level cops doing their jobs as the superhuman cops get all the glamor crimes

I watched the trailer.  I believe they just told Mark Wahlberg to act natural, because it looked like he really wanted to punch Will Ferrell about as badly as I did in just those couple of minutes.  But then, that's Will Ferrell's character - Elf becomes a cop.  I loved Elf, though.  It was worth it to see them beat the cr@p out of Alan Partridge though.  

Best of luck with it regardless of what you do with it. Rooting for you

Quoted from eldave1 Best of luck with it regardless of what you do with it. Rooting for you

Thanks Dave!

Oh yes, on watching extended clips -- Captain Gene Rocks!

Quoted from steven8 Thanks Dave! Oh yes, on watching extended clips -- Captain Gene Rocks!

Yeah - he's priceless

Quoted from steven8 In Mission Impossible Ethan Hunt is always told that a mission is his, 'if he choses to accept it.'  In the films, he always accepts it.  Does that mean he always accepts every mission offered, or do we just have the pleasure of watching the action of those he does accept?  What happens to the missions we don't see?  The ones he doesn't accept?  Is there a 2nd tier of agents those jobs get passed to, without the option of choosing? I propose a film, or series of films, or a television series, dedicated to following those agents who handle the missions Ethan Hunt felt didn't live up to his celebrity status.  These agents aren't inept, like Johnny English, whose only successes are based on dumb luck.  They are solid, work-a-day agents who aren't superhuman.  Sometimes the crazy things they have to do in the line of duty scare the daylights out of them, yet they reach down deep to find the reserves they need to meet the challenge in a heroic manner, or they find a more grounded, safe method to get the job done.  They may fall down a few times, and it isn't always pretty and sometimes will bring out a few laughs, but get the job done they do...always.  They then return to their desk to wait for the next file folder stamped 'Rejected' to be dropped in front of them. Think Matt Helm who never gets the girl.  He gets a steady paycheck. I believe the audience will find it relatable.  While people do love the adrenaline rush provided by Tom Cruise and his actions, I think the average moviegoer will love seeing someone more on their level doing exciting things and saving the world. Logline: Follow the 2nd tier of the world's finest secret agents as they give their all battling the forces of evil to resolve those cases Ethan Hunt chose not to accept. Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy Tone: Light-hearted Budget: $100MM minimum if you want it to look like it belongs on the same screen as an actual M:I production.

Mission: Ridiculously Impossible

A rag-tag group of second-tier agents take on super secret agent Ethan Hunt's refused assignments, only to become a target of the elite spy after uncovering he's a traitor.

LOL

I think things like this really need to be a lot of fun, and it has that kind of potential IMO. The movie Adaptation is great for comedic inspiration.

Quoted from Robert Timsah Mission: Ridiculously Impossible A rag-tag group of second-tier agents take on super secret agent Ethan Hunt's refused assignments, only to become a target of the elite spy after uncovering he's a traitor. LOL I think things like this really need to be a lot of fun, and it has that kind of potential IMO. The movie Adaptation is great for comedic inspiration.

No, no, no, no no...this is brilliant!  You may have been joking, but I think you came up with a terrific idea.  As the 'lesser' agents solve Hunt's unwanted cases, coupled with the case files of his successes, little clues start to send up flags.  They start to realize there's a pattern forming between the cases he takes and the reason's he turned down the others.  He's only accepting the cases that can remove the only major players he thinks could expose him for the traitor he is, but the bit players in the secondary cases he thinks aren't important are also tied into the bigger picture.  They may be small potatoes compared to the big bosses, but they still know things.  As you say, once the lesser agents realize what's going on and work on a plan to expose him, Hunt realizes what they've uncovered, and he has to go after them.  Perhaps framing them as traitors he has to go after.  Then they have to save themselves, prove their innocence and get Hunt as well.

This is great!

P.S. - I toyed with names like Mission: Nearly Impossible, Mission: Pretty Bloody Hard, and my wife came up with Mission: Improbable.

Quoted from steven8 Mission: Pretty Bloody Hard

Love it - (Although you might want to check it's not already a porno first)

Quoted from Matthew Taylor Love it - (Although you might want to check it's not already a porno first)

Couldn't find any pornos by that name.    These are all I could find and none are Mission: Impossible related.

Pretty Bloody: The Women of Horror (TV Movie 2009)
Mission Bloody Mary (1965)
Shaolin: The Blood Mission
Angel's Blood Mission
Blood and Amber: Silk Mission
The Bloody Mission (1982)

Here is a combined synopsis:

Tasked with handling the missions super-agent Ethan Hunt chose not to accept, a pair of bog-standard agents uncover a series of clues that lead to a very disturbing conclusion: Ethan Hunt has used his status to cherry pick assignments to eliminate high profile villains who could reveal the fact that he is actually a traitor!  Facing a task even more impossible than one of Hunt's missions, the pair access his case files to build up enough evidence to prove their findings.  Unfortunately, the powerful Hunt has moles everywhere, and they tell him that the duo is onto something.  Faced with exposure, the resourceful agent creates false evidence that brands them as traitors first, and promises to bring them to justice.  On the run from the greatest super-agent in history, the unlikely pair are forced to not only prove his deception, but save themselves as well.

I absolutely read the title as “pig bitch” and was ready for some wild drama

Quoted from AlsoBen I absolutely read the title as “pig bitch” and was ready for some wild drama

Gyah!  Don't give away the title of my next script!

Pig Bitch Big Pitch Update.

I've got a new logline for the dark version (which is the version I like better)

When a pair of 2nd tier operatives uncover a dark secret about super-agent Ethan Hunt, they find themselves running for their lives from heroes as well as villains.

I am very fond of Robert's logline as well, with a couple of minor changes:

A rag-tag pair of second-tier agents take on super secret agent Ethan Hunt's discarded assignments, only to become a target of the elite spy after uncovering a dark secret behind the assignments he does accept.