Italy
The film crew arrived in Rome on October 4, 2020, to shoot thrilling car chase scenes on the streets of the Eternal City, including the famous Spanish Steps. “Rome is a city known for the challenges of filming due to traffic conditions as well as the narrow streets that can be quite tricky,” McQ shared. “Every turn tends to create a unique visual aesthetic of this city, making it difficult to control vehicles while executing drifts or skids. Each drift tends to send your car in a direction that is hard to control.”
For the first time in history, the film crew was allowed to traverse the streets of Rome, including one of the city’s most famous roads, Via dei Fori Imperiali, where filming took place over two days. The team embraced the historical backdrop, and in true “Mission: Impossible” style, aimed to create stunning visuals with practical effects.
After nine days of filming in Italy, the crew moved to Venice to shoot for around two weeks. While all scenes in Rome were conducted during the day, the Venice sequences were filmed at night, beginning with a lavish party featuring all main characters taking place at the Doge’s Palace. Built in 1340, this palace is now one of the most iconic landmarks in Venice.
Norway
The country selected for filming some scenes in “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” is Norway. The crew returned to the stunning landscapes of Northern Europe nearly three years after filming “Fallout.” It was not a disappointment: this location also serves as a backdrop for more action scenes.
The stunning autumn landscapes of Norway provided a perfect backdrop for thrilling stunts. The cliff diving scene was filmed at Troll Wall (Trollveggen), known as the tallest vertical cliff in Europe at over 1,000 meters high.
Additionally, the team filmed in Åndalsnes, a picturesque town by the Rauma River. This area is renowned for its breathtaking natural scenery, with towering mountains and lush waterfalls. Viewers will notice this location as Ethan battles Gabriel (Esai Morales) on top of a train.
The action scenes were also shot in Hellesylt, a small village in western Norway. This place is surrounded by majestic mountains and waterfalls while offering a breathtaking view. Tom Cruise hopes that these stunning visuals will inspire everyone to visit Norway and explore its natural beauty.
United Arab Emirates
The capital of the UAE, Abu Dhabi, welcomed the film crew for “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” with a variety of locations. The first stop was the Midfield Terminal – an airport currently under construction during the filming of this movie. When officially opened, Midfield Terminal will become one of the largest international airports in the world.
The Midfield Terminal is designed to create an impressive atmosphere. The scene of Ethan Hunt running through the airport was shot against a backdrop of massive steel structures, providing an intense visual experience for viewers.
The crew decided that after the airport scene, they would film Ethan Hunt meeting Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) in the Rub’ al Khali (Empty Quarter) desert in the UAE. This location features expansive sand dunes, making it ideal for thrilling chase scenes.
England
In addition to Italy and Norway, the film crew chose the UK to capture some thrilling scenes. The remarkable chase took place in the charming village of Stoney Middleton in Derbyshire, where the Darlton Peak became a significant part of the filming process. The production team constructed a special railroad track for the train stunt scenes. Furthermore, some breathtaking scenes, such as train derailing in “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,” were filmed at Levisham in North Yorkshire, near a national park.
