How Did Tom Cruise React to His Wildest Mission: Impossible Stunts? Simon Pegg Reveals Truth

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With “Mission: Impossible” series preparing for its possible farewell movie, “The Final Reckoning,” on May 23rd, Simon Pegg, a longtime co-star, shares memories of Tom Cruise‘s incredible stunts and how the action maestro reacted to them in real life. In a recent conversation with PEOPLE, Pegg talks about the tense backstage experience as they watched Cruise put his life on the line for that perfect take.

From 2006 with Mission: Impossible III, Simon Pegg has consistently been by Tom Cruise’s side – on-screen as Benji Dunn, and off-screen as a frequent admirer of the actor’s death-defying stunts. One particularly striking moment for Pegg was in Ghost Protocol (2011), where Cruise scaled the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the world’s tallest structure. As Pegg looked out from a window, he saw Cruise, “hanging there with a wide grin on his face, like he was enjoying the best time.

However, not all stunts managed to elicit laughter. As recalled by Pegg, Cruise displayed an uncommon sign of anxiety before filming the thrilling plane scene in Rogue Nation – where he precariously held onto a military aircraft as it took off. “That was the first time I’d ever seen him nervous,” Pegg confesses. “There were numerous factors at play… many things that could have gone awry.” Even Cruise himself confessed to having doubts as the plane moved down the runway: “Perhaps this wasn’t such a brilliant idea.

In 2023’s Dead Reckoning Part One, the most nerve-wracking instance for Pegg occurred as Tom Cruise rode a motorcycle off a cliff and deployed a parachute while still in mid-air. Along with the rest of the cast, Pegg held his breath, anxiously awaiting news over the radio that “good canopy” had been transmitted – indicating that Cruise’s parachute had successfully opened.

Regardless of the challenges faced, Cruise’s commitment has remained unwavering. As Pegg puts it, “He’s prepared to put his life on the line for the viewers.” He frequently tells Cruise, “You’re completely mad,” yet the bond between actor and stuntman is strong. Pegg also acknowledges that it’s enjoyable to portray a character who seems like an ordinary audience member, exclaiming, “This is insane!

In May, the latest installment of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning will be released in theaters, promising even more heart-pounding stunts and suspenseful action, as well as some classic Tom Cruise smiles that leave an unforgettable impression, whether he’s grinning from the top of a skyscraper or holding firm against gusts of jet fuel. Simon Pegg (and the rest of us) will find it hard to forget Cruise’s daring legacy.

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2025-05-05 09:38