John Musgrave

Evil-doer
Full Name	John Musgrave
Alias	John
Origin	Mission: Impossible III
Occupation	IMF operations manager (formerly) Second-in-command of Owen Davian
Powers / Skills	Impersonating High intelligence
Hobby	Ridding the world of terrorism.
Goals	Set Theodore Brassel up, so that everyone will think he is a traitor (failed). Help Davian sell the Rabbit's Foot to various terrorist groups so the IMF will be involved (failed). Defeat and kill his former colleague Ethan Hunt and his wife Julia Ann Meade (failed).
Crimes	Terrorism
Type of Villain	Corrupt Official

“	In 18 hours, the Rabbit's Foot will be delivered to its Middle Eastern buyer, and we'll have credible intel to prove it. US Security Council will get a report by this time tomorrow. We're talking a military strike within a week. And when the sand settles, our country will do what it does best. Clean up. Infrastructure. Democracy wins.	„
	~ John Musgrave

John Musgrave is the secondary antagonist of the 2006 film Mission: Impossible III.

He was the Operations Manager for the IMF who was Ethan Hunt's handler. However, it is revealed that he was a traitor within the IMF, having been in league with Owen Davian the entire time. It was Musgrave who had set up the death of Lindsey Farris and was behind the kidnapping and torture of Ethan's wife Julia. Musgrave personally intended to frame IMF Director Theodore Brassel for his crimes.

He was portrayed by Billy Crudup, who also portrayed Doctor Manhattan in 2009's Watchmen.

History

As IMF's Operations Manager

During the opening scene of the film, Musgrave sends IMF agent Ethan Hunt to rescue his kidnapped protege, Lindsey Farris, bringing him out of his semi-retirement of the agency. In the video briefing from a modified camera, Musgrave tells Ethan that three of IMF agents Luther Stickell, Declan Gormley and Zhen Lei are his teammates in this mission.

When Hunt's wife, Julia Meade, is kidnapped by Owen Davian and Ethan himself is arrested by IMF, Musgrave gives Hunt enough time to break free.

Revealed himself as a traitor

In Shanghai, China, Ethan has to deliver Rabbit's Foot to Davian in exchange for Julia's release, only Ethan is subdued and loses the Rabbit's Foot in the process which prompts Davian to shoot "Julia".

Musgrave arrives and explains that the woman killed was not Julia, but Davian’s translator, his chief of security, executed for failing to protect him in Vatican City. The ruse was to confirm the authenticity of the Rabbit's Foot. Julia is alive and held as a hostage. Musgrave reveals himself as Davian's second-in-command. He warned Davian that Lindsay Farris was coming for him and arranged for him to acquire the Rabbit's Foot and sell it to various terrorist groups on the black market, so that the IMF would have reasons to launch a preemptive strike and, in his mind, rid the world of terrorism and set Theodore Brassel up to cover his tracks. He also tells Ethan that it is pointless to kill Davian, because there are two more men like him who would quickly take his place. Then, he allows Ethan to talk to Julia via his cell phone and when he buckles, Ethan easily knocks him out and steals his phone to call his colleague and technician, Benjamin "Benji" Dunn. The latter helps him locate Julia and eventually kills Davian. While Ethan is unconscious because of a micro-explosive charge that has previously been implanted in his head, Julia kills a henchman and later Musgrave, who was carrying the case containing the Rabbit's Foot.

Quotes

“	Ethan. Three days ago, Agent Lindsey Farris was captured while on a surveillance operation. This is the man she was tracking. His name is Owen Davian. Details are eyes-only, but I can tell you that Davian's a black-market trafficker. Extremely dangerous and a priority for us. At 1400 hours today, a recon satellite ID'd a caravan of vehicles with plates matched those known to have been used by Davian's operatives. They stopped at a derelict factory outside Berlin. It appears they have a hostage. We believe it's Agent Farris. Normally we would disavow, but Lindsey may be the key to getting us closer to Davian, and that's a risk we need to take. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find Lindsey and bring her home. I've already assembled a team. I have them standing by, awaiting your word. This message, let's call it my excellent engagement gift to you, will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck, Ethan, and thanks again.	„
	~ John speaking to Ethan in a modified mission briefing camera.

“	It's complicated.	„
	~ Musgrave, revealing himself as the traitor

“	I thought you could get her back. But I wasn't gonna let Brassel, of all people, undo the work I'd done. I took action, Ethan, on behalf of the working families of our country. The Armed Forces, the White House. I'd had enough of Brassel and his sanctimony. IMF Executive Director. He's an affirmative action poster boy. You grab Davian like he wanted, then what? Davian's a weed. You cut him out, two more spring up just like him the next day. Arrest him? Then what? You use him. Collaborate with him. And it's Christmas.	„
	~ Musgrave explaining his motives

Gallery

Musgrave’s demise.

Navigation

Villains

Mission: Impossible (TV series) Helmut Kellerman Mission: Impossible (film) Jim Phelps | Franz Krieger | Max Mitsopolis | Claire Phelps | Matthias Mission: Impossible 2 Sean Ambrose | Hugh Stamp | John C. McCloy | Wallis | Ulrich | Michael | Simon Mission: Impossible III Owen Davian | John Musgrave | Brownway | Kimbrough Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol Kurt Hendricks | Marius Wistrom | Sabine Moreau | Brij Nath Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation The Syndicate Solomon Lane | Janik Vinter | Kagan | Saif | Richter Other Atlee Mission: Impossible – Fallout The Apostles Solomon Lane | John Lark | Nils Debruuk Other White Widow | Zola Mitsopolis Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning The Entity | Gabriel | Paris | White Widow | Zola Mitsopolis | Grace | The Buyer | Denlinger