Tom Cruise Defies Gravity AGAIN in Jaw-dropping MI 8 Plane Stunt
Tom Cruise has consistently been redefining what it means to be an action star, electing to do his own stunts for some of the most insane cinematic scenes we've ever seen.
In the upcoming finale to the Mission: Impossible franchise, Cruise has once again put himself in a precarious situation: Walking on the outside of an in-flight airplane.
Cruise began his role of Ethan Hunt in 1996's Mission: Impossible, having now played the role in six released movies. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One will hit theaters this summer, meant to be the first of a two-part send-off to Hunt's story.
Paramount Global CEO recently teased the insane airplane stunt at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media, and Telecom Conference – though fans will have to wait for Part Two to see it.
"Tom's walking on the outside of an airplane," he said. "In the air, not on a green screen. It's quite the ride."
Christopher McQuarrie, who's written and directed the last two MI films and will be leading the upcoming two-parter, teased the stunts on social media.
He posted photos of an in-flight V-22 Osprey and the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush. The V-22 is able to hover in the air, making speed manipulation possible.
That means the crew can move the aircraft at speeds reasonable for Cruise to walk along the side.
McQuarrie made sure to thank the military members who offered to help on the project.
"Fair winds and following seas to all aboard as you look toward closing out your deployment," he said, "and our utmost thanks and respect to your families and loved ones holding down the fort at home."
Production is taking place off of Italy's coast, with recent reports referring to it as a "complex shoot."
Cruise has always gone above and beyond in his stunt acting. For 2015's Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, he once held his breath for over six minutes for an underwater scene – a record since broken by Kate Winslet in Avatar: The Way of Water.
He climbed a 2,000-foot vertical rock for Mission: Impossible 2, skydived 106 times for Mission: Impossible – Fallout, and even learned how to fly aircraft for Top Gun: Maverick.
Cruise's unbelievable stunts show his dedication to his craft and love for his work. His Mission: Impossible franchise has grossed over $3.5 billion over its six movies.
Dead Reckoning Part One is slated for a July 14 release, with Part Two scheduled for July 28, 2024.