Tom Cruise, the name synonymous with daring stunts and action-packed cinema, recently shared his perspective on performing risky feats for the "Mission: Impossible" franchise, stating that he's "never feared the unknown". Cruise made a surprise appearance at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday, where he discussed the mentality he has while filming dangerous stunts.
Cruise's dedication to performing his own stunts is well-known, and he consistently pushes the boundaries of what's possible on screen. Whether it's scaling the Burj Khalifa, hanging off a flying plane, or performing a High-Altitude Low-Opening (HALO) jump from 25,000 feet, Cruise immerses himself fully in the action, often leaving audiences breathless.
In a recent interview, Cruise opened up about his approach to these challenges. He emphasized the importance of preparation and training, stating that he learns various skills with the intention of using them in his movies. This includes everything from dancing and playing the piano to parachuting, flying airplanes, and helicopters. According to Cruise, "I will learn a skill, and I know eventually I'm going to use it in a movie". He further added, “The wonderful thing is you're never there. It can always be better".
For "Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One," Cruise performed a motorcycle cliff jump that is considered one of the most ambitious stunts of his career. The stunt involved riding a motorcycle off a 1,200-foot cliff in Norway and free-falling before deploying a parachute. To prepare for this, Cruise performed over 13,000 motocross jumps and 500 skydives. He also underwent a year of training to master motocross, base jumping, and advanced skydiving. Cruise also had to ensure that he wasn't letting any of his true emotions show during the stunts. “I had to make sure I wasn't smiling,” he adds.
Cruise's commitment extends beyond physical training. He also focuses on the performance aspect, ensuring that he remains in character while executing these dangerous stunts. He is all in as a friend, as a co-worker, and attacking life. He says that it is okay to say that you do not know something and that he will figure it out together with his crew.
However, the stunts are not without risk. During the filming of "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning," Cruise reportedly passed out on the wing of a stunt plane over South Africa. He had spent 22 minutes out of the cockpit, exceeding safety guidelines. Director Christopher McQuarrie recounted the incident, stating that Cruise was "so physically exhausted, he couldn't get back up off the wing". Despite the scare, Cruise managed to regain consciousness, get back into the cockpit, and safely land the plane.
In another instance, while filming a submarine scene, Cruise breathed his own carbon dioxide to avoid using a regular SCUBA mask. This required him to train for hypoxia and carbon dioxide buildup, drawing on his experience flying jets.
Despite the inherent dangers, Cruise seems to thrive on the challenge. He said that he likes the feeling of fear, that it is just an emotion for him and that it is something that is not paralyzing. He insists that he doesn't mind encountering the unknown and that this is what he dreamed of doing as a kid. He also eats a massive breakfast because of the amount of energy it takes to train so hard for the wing-walking.
"Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning" is set to be released on May 23, 2025.
