Tom Cruise’s Incredible Sacrifices for Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

In the world of stunning cinematic feats, the journey of Hollywood stars is often marked by intense training and sacrifice. With the upcoming release of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Tom Cruise reveals that he spent three years perfecting a single stunt for the film.

“One of the Most Spectacular Stunts”

In Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Tom Cruise adds to his impressive list of accolades. He undertook a groundbreaking stunt that involved jumping from a motorcycle off a cliff, marking his 536th jump in preparation for this scene. This involves an extreme sport known as BASE jumping, which stands for Building, Antenna, Span, and Earth—referring to the various high-altitude structures from which participants jump. BASE jumpers use specialized wingsuits to glide through the air, creating an exhilarating yet dangerous experience.

The scene featuring Ethan Hunt riding a motorcycle off a cliff took 15 months to prepare, including 536 practice jumps. Additionally, Cruise underwent extensive training in various disciplines to master the necessary skills and safely execute the stunt.

According to Allan Hewitt, the stunt coordinator for the film, Cruise performed the jumps to a level that surpasses many professionals who train for world championships. For months, he practiced jumping in the mornings and trained on the motorcycle in the evenings.

After calculating the jump’s parameters, the motorcycle jump was built to a length of 135 meters and a height of 10.8 meters, with a landing area only three meters wide. Cruise explained, “I need to train very well to not make any mistakes. We check everything every time. I don’t want to make any miscalculations, as any deviation outside the target could lead to a fall. Therefore, we focus very carefully on the training and checks.”

The actor also had to master the mechanics of his 300cc Honda motorcycle to perform the stunt effectively. The risk level was so high that he had to train himself to be aware of his surroundings while riding at high speeds. Cruise shared, “I had to train my body to understand the movement through the sound of the motorcycle and the feel of the parts moving on the chassis.”

When Tom Cruise leaps off the cliff, he has only about six seconds to deploy his parachute. Hewitt stated, “If he doesn’t pull the chute in time, he might only have two seconds before hitting the ground. Every second is crucial.”

Top 1 in Extreme Sports

After performing the incredible motorcycle jump, Cruise raised the stakes with another unbelievable feat: speedflying (jumping while gliding). This extreme sport combines parachuting and skiing, where participants use a small parachute to glide down mountains. Speedflying differs from traditional parachuting as it doesn’t involve jumping from an aircraft, resulting in a more challenging and less common experience.

“Speedflying is one of the most dangerous sports in the world, and that’s what we’ve learned through extensive research,” said director Christopher McQuarrie. “One of the particularly dangerous aspects is flying too close to the ground and too fast. Other risks are related to the parachute, which may not deploy as intended. Every jump is very difficult to predict.”

Tom Cruise trained for three years for the speedflying scene. The star stated, “I want to give the audience the sensation of flying.” He underwent extensive training in various locations across three countries, learning different landscapes, mastering techniques, and understanding how to adapt to wind conditions and interact with the terrain. The actor reached speeds of 80 km/h during filming at Lake Valley, the United Kingdom.

Unlike other action films, the crew had to work hard to keep Cruise’s stunts under wraps during the filming of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. Tom Cruise is known for performing his own stunts, while the crew’s role is to ensure the safety of the actor. Director Christopher McQuarrie added, “Along with the motorcycle jump, this is one of the most challenging endeavors we’ve undertaken.”

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is set to premiere on July 8.