Tom Cruise once again proved he’s Hollywood’s ultimate daredevil, revealing a terrifying behind-the-scenes moment from Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning at the Cannes Film Festival.
Director Christopher McQuarrie shared that while filming a harrowing stunt in South Africa, Cruise spent 22 minutes on the wing of a biplane—double the advised safety limit—causing panic among the crew. With fierce 140 mph winds battering him, Cruise appeared to pass out, dangling motionless over the roaring propeller. Making the moment even more tense, the plane had just six minutes of fuel left.
Fortunately, Cruise—ever the professional—regained his strength, replenished his oxygen by leaning into the cockpit, and landed the plane safely. “No one on Earth can do that but Tom Cruise,” McQuarrie said to thunderous applause.
Cruise, ever modest, chalked it up to meticulous preparation and his love for facing fear head-on. “It’s just an emotion,” he shrugged. “I don’t mind encountering the unknown.”
The film, reportedly a culmination of three decades of Cruise’s work, is already being hailed as “jaw-dropping” by critics. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning hits North American theaters on May 23, promising a breathtaking summer blockbuster unlike any other.
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