The Hollywood action star shares details of a high-risk aerial scene that pushed him to his physical limits
Washington [US], February 9:
Tom Cruise has built a reputation for pushing himself to the limit in his movies, and his latest stunt for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning might be his most extreme yet. In a recent interview, the actor revealed that he passed out multiple times while performing a high-risk aerial stunt for the upcoming blockbuster.
Speaking to Deadline, Cruise detailed the intense sequence, which features his character, Ethan Hunt, clinging to the wing of a 1930s Boeing Stearman biplane—soaring at 10,000 feet over South Africa at speeds exceeding 120 miles per hour.
“There Were Times I Would Pass Out”
Recalling the physically grueling experience, Cruise explained the challenge of enduring high wind pressure at such an altitude.
“When you stick your face out, going over 120 to 130 miles an hour, you’re not getting oxygen,” he said. “So I had to train myself how to breathe. There were times I would pass out physically; I was unable to get back into the cockpit.”
The breathtaking sequence, which has already stunned audiences in the film’s teaser trailer, promises to be one of the most thrilling moments in the Mission: Impossible franchise.
Director Teases “Brain-Melting” Stunts
Director Christopher McQuarrie, who has collaborated with Cruise on multiple Mission: Impossible films, confirmed that the final chapter will feature some of the most jaw-dropping stunts in franchise history.
“There are stunts in the film that will melt your brain,” McQuarrie teased. “Tom would go out and do something that topped anything he had ever done before.”
The filmmaker also hinted at another yet-to-be-revealed stunt that was so intense, he admitted it made him feel physically ill just thinking about it.
Cruise’s Legacy of Extreme Stunts
Tom Cruise’s dedication to performing his own stunts has become legendary in Hollywood. Over the years, he has tackled some of the most dangerous sequences ever attempted on film, including:
- Scaling the Burj Khalifa in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
- Holding his breath for over six minutes underwater in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation
- Clinging to the side of a plane during takeoff in Mission: Impossible – Fallout
- Flying real fighter jets in Top Gun: Maverick
With Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning set to be the final installment in the franchise, Cruise is ensuring that the action ends on a high note—literally. Fans can expect to see the actor pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on screen when the film hits theaters.