Christopher McQuarrie Talks Stunts In 'Mission: Impossible

Mission: Impossible fans, get ready for some heart-pounding action and jaw-dropping stunts. Tom Cruise and writer-director Christopher McQuarrie are back with Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, set to release on July 12. The dynamic duo, known for their collaboration on previous Mission: Impossible films, had big aspirations for this latest installment, each with a specific stunt in mind. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly Christopher McQuarrie discusses the behind the scenes talks with Tom on those stunts.

“When we started discussing this movie, I asked Tom what he wanted to do,” recalls McQuarrie, who helmed the previous two films in the franchise. “He said he wanted to drive a motorcycle off a cliff. And I said, ‘I want to wreck a train.’ We both had our own visions inspired by legendary filmmakers like Buster Keaton and John Frankenheimer, who gave us unforgettable train wreck sequences. I wanted to create my own version of that spectacle.”

True to his word, Cruise fulfilled his motorcycle cliff-jumping ambition on the very first day of shooting in September 2020. In the stunning landscapes of Hellesylt, Norway, Cruise fearlessly rode a motorcycle off a ramp and over a cliff, safely parachuting to the ground below. McQuarrie, on the other hand, had to wait almost a year to see his train-wreck dream come to life. Finding the perfect location for the train sequence proved to be a challenge. Media reports speculated about the destruction of a historic bridge in Poland, leading to protests. McQuarrie clarified the situation, explaining that only unsafe sections of the bridge were intended for demolition. Eventually, much of the train sequence was shot in the United Kingdom, with a 70-ton train plunging into Darlton Quarry.

“The energy that went into developing, designing, and building the train sequence, and then crafting a sequence that justified its existence, was probably the biggest challenge of my entire life,” McQuarrie shares. The dedication and effort put into bringing these adrenaline-pumping moments to the screen are a testament to the commitment of the cast and crew.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One sees Tom Cruise reprising his iconic role as Ethan Hunt, leader of the Mission Impossible Force. Joined by Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell, Simon Pegg as Benji Dunn, and Rebecca Ferguson as Ilsa Faust, Hunt embarks on a new mission that takes him to Italy. In an exclusive image revealed, McQuarrie describes a scene set in Venice’s Doge’s Palace, where Hunt and Faust attend a swanky event filled with uncertainty and mystery.

The film not only brings back familiar faces but also introduces new additions to the franchise. Vanessa Kirby returns as arms dealer White Widow, while Henry Czerny reprises his role as former IMF director Kittridge, absent since the first Mission: Impossible film. Joining the ensemble cast are Pom Klementieff, Shea Whigham, Greg Tarzan Davis (Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick co-star), and Esai Morales from the hit series Ozark.

McQuarrie teases the enigmatic nature of Morales’ character, hinting at his role as one of the antagonists in the story. As the narrative unfolds across the two films, audiences will discover more about him—a ghost from the past with hidden depths.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is just the beginning of the thrilling adventure, with Part Two set to conclude the story in June 2024. Fans can expect intense action, mind-boggling stunts, and a riveting plot that will keep them on the edge of their seats.