The buzz around the Oscars was palpable as news broke that a prestigious award for Best Stunt Design would finally be introduced. Instantly, fans jokingly suggested that Tom Cruise should be recognized retroactively—a nod to his relentless dedication to real stunts throughout the Mission: Impossible franchise. Though that won’t happen, it’s hard to imagine anyone better suited to present the very first award than Cruise himself. With his new film, Final Reckoning, set to hit theaters on May 23rd, M:I co-star Simon Pegg is stepping forward to share some thrilling behind-the-scenes anecdotes that only bolster the argument for Cruise as the undisputed king of stunts.
Pegg, who’s teamed up with Cruise in six Mission: Impossible films, has had a front-row seat to the daredevil antics that Cruise performs. He’s witnessed, firsthand, the lengths to which Cruise goes to ensure that every stunt is executed flawlessly. As Pegg puts it, “I’ve told him a hundred times, ‘You’re absolutely nuts.’ But he simply cares that much about the craft.”
Reflecting on the breathtaking experience of filming 2011’s Ghost Protocol at the iconic Burj Khalifa in Dubai—the tallest structure on the planet at a staggering 2,722 feet—Pegg vividly recalls watching Cruise dangle out of a window. He shares, “Just seeing Tom there, hanging off that building with this giant grin, it was as if he was saying, ‘This is the best day of my life!’” And who could forget the heart-pounding motorcycle leap in the recently released Dead Reckoning? Pegg adds, “We were on pins and needles, just waiting to hear ‘good canopy’ on the radio after he disappeared into the sky. It was a breath-holding moment for sure.”
Curiouser still, does even Tom Cruise feel nervous when undertaking such extraordinary feats? Surprisingly, yes—he is undeniably human. Pegg recalls a particularly tense moment during 2015’s Rogue Nation, where Cruise found himself clinging to the side of a plane. Pegg reflected, “That was the first time I’ve ever seen him look nervous. So many variables were in play, and I could feel the tension! The stunt team was exceptional, and Tom’s preparation was meticulous, but those innate human jitters, they were there.” As it turns out, while Cruise pours his heart into death-defying stunts, he’s also surprisingly devoted to his eggs—much to Pegg’s disappointment, there’s no dramatic Cool Hand Luke-style tale about that!
Now, we want to hear from you! What’s your all-time favorite Tom Cruise stunt in the Mission: Impossible series?
