Tom Cruise Tests Limits, Guides Director Through Plane Wing Stunt

Renowned actor Tom Cruise has consistently redefined the boundaries of action in the Mission: Impossible series, and for the eighth chapter, Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning, he elevated the challenge even further. Cruise disclosed that director Christopher McQuarrie envisioned nearly impossible stunts for the upcoming film, prompting the actor to demonstrate the sheer difficulty by having McQuarrie experience the stunt firsthand.

"We were discussing the storyline, and [McQuarrie] said, 'I need you to move from one point to another in seconds,'" Cruise shared at a recent Tokyo press conference for the film. "I told him, 'That’s not feasible.' He insisted, outlining more steps, and I had to repeat, 'It’s just not possible.'"

"It seemed straightforward,” McQuarrie noted about the stunt that challenged Cruise. “But every time I described it, [he’d] respond, ‘That’s not something you can do.’ I don’t usually hear ‘impossible’ from him.”

For Cruise, a veteran of breathtaking stunts across the Mission: Impossible series, his expertise spoke volumes. "I explained, 'The speed and air pressure make moving quickly on the wing unfeasible,'" he said, noting that a 20-minute demonstration helped McQuarrie grasp the challenge. "The aircraft’s speed and the wind’s force were relentless. So I told him, ‘The best way to understand is to try it yourself. Sit in the plane, step onto the wing, and feel the intensity.’ I ended up coaching him through it."

McQuarrie embraced the experience. "It was thrilling, honestly," he said. "I’d absolutely do it again." Cruise also revealed at the conference that he’d trained for years for this stunt, emphasizing the importance of selecting the right aircraft to make it work.

Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning will debut at the Cannes Film Festival, held from May 13 to May 24, 2025, before soaring into theaters globally on May 23, 2025.