Tom Cruise's Daring Stunt: Wingwalking on a Biplane Nearly Ends in Disaster
At the Cannes Film Festival, director Christopher McQuarrie shared a shocking behind-the-scenes moment from the filming of "Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning," where Tom Cruise performed a breathtaking stunt on the wing of a biplane. This high-stakes scene involved Cruise, at age 62, walking between the two wings of the airborne aircraft while filming in South Africa.
Cruise, known for his insistence on executing his own stunts, conceived the nerve-wracking action sequence that involved him floating in zero gravity between the biplane's wings. Despite warnings from professional stuntmen about the inherent dangers of wingwalking, McQuarrie revealed that Cruise was determined to continue filming even after pushing beyond the recommended 12-minute threshold for such stunts.
"Wingwalking is extremely risky because the human body starts to break down after about 12 minutes due to wind pressure and difficulty in breathing at high altitudes," McQuarrie explained. He was monitoring the stunt from a helicopter alongside the plane. Despite the risks, Cruise was eager to push his limits.
However, there was a critical moment when Cruise’s energy waned. McQuarrie recounted that Cruise became so physically exhausted he found himself lying prone on the wing, raising concerns about his safety, especially after the pilot revealed that the plane had only three minutes of fuel left. The dilemma became apparent — the aircraft could not land with Cruise lying in such a precarious position.
Witnessing the dramatic scene, McQuarrie described Cruise's incredible determination as he managed to pull himself up to the cockpit to catch his breath. "No one on earth can do that but Tom," McQuarrie remarked, showcasing Cruise's exceptional endurance and commitment to his craft.
During the Cannes event, Cruise discussed his thrill-seeking approach to filmmaking, echoing sentiments of embracing the unknown. "I don’t mind encountering the unknown. It’s just an emotion for me and it’s something that is not paralyzing," he stated.
McQuarrie, who has helmed several of Cruise's projects, also took the opportunity to voice concerns about the current state of the U.S. film industry. He lamented that filmmakers are increasingly torn between the dual identities of artist and entertainer. In his criticism, he noted that streaming services are drifting audiences away from classic films, mentioning how many people have little knowledge of important works in cinema history.
“The number of people I meet who have never heard of ‘The Best Years of Our Lives’ or ‘Shadow of a Doubt,’ whose cinematic understanding begins at ‘Star Wars’ or ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ is alarming,” he said. His comments reflect a worry about the future of cinema and the appreciation for its rich history as the industry grapples with technological changes and new viewing habits.
Cruise's daring stunt and McQuarrie's insights highlight the ongoing evolution in filmmaking, balancing thrilling entertainment with the preservation of cinematic heritage as the boundaries of movie-making are pushed ever further.
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