By When you’ve been shouldering a franchise for nearly 30 years, it’s reasonable to think you might become fatigued every now and then. Nonetheless, one of the least favorable places to do so might be on the edge of a biplane thousands of feet above ground. Yet, that’s exactly what occurred with Tom Cruise during the astonishing aerial finale of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. In a conversation with The Times, the veteran stunt coordinator and second-unit director, Wade Eastwood, disclosed how demanding it was for Cruise during the last major spectacle.
“It wore him out. The gusts hitting him, and the force of the propeller, debris striking him. It was the most intense workout imaginable—very perilous and incredibly draining for him,” Eastwood reminisced. “Numerous times we had to carry him off the wing because he was absolutely exhausted. And he was airborne the entire day.”
Throughout this portion, Cruise utilized hand gestures to convey his status to the crew and director, Christopher McQuarrie. A repeated tap on his mouth signified fatigue, prompting him to rest on the wing mid-air for 10 to 15 minutes at intervals before resuming. Nevertheless, the star remained composed and persevered. “Tom doesn’t exhibit fear; Tom illustrates capability,” Eastwood clarified. “He enjoyed every one of his stunts, despite them being draining. He’s perpetually upbeat, he’ll always don a smile, and he genuinely finds joy in it.”
As this marks the concluding installment in the Mission: Impossible series, Cruise can take a respite from extreme stunts with his forthcoming project, collaborating with The Revenant director, Alejandro González Iñárritu. The film is a science fiction tale with world-altering consequences as Cruise portrays a character determined to prove he’s the planet’s champion after nearly leading to its ruin. The movie also features Sophia Wilde, Emma D’Arcy, Riz Ahmed, Jesse Plemons, and John Goodman.
While it may seem like a significant undertaking, there’s been no assurance regarding how far Cruise will physically challenge himself for the role. Even so, Eastwood doesn’t anticipate the star stepping away from peril for too long. “No, absolutely no chance. He’s a machine. He behaves like a 20-year-old.