Mission: Impossible 7's Death-Defying Train Stunt: A Risky Endeavor That Ultimately Went Unseen

Summary

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One had a dangerous stunt that featured the cast risking their lives, but it didn't make the final cut.

Director Christopher McQuarrie revealed that due to the failure of the initially intended resettable rig, the actors were compelled to execute the stunt in a practical manner. However, despite the extensive dedication and potential danger, the scene was eventually excluded from the film following test screenings that garnered a varied range of responses.

In Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, an intense scene involving the cast risking their lives was ultimately omitted from the final film. The scene showcases Ethan Hunt's (Tom Cruise) desperate attempts to prevent an AI from becoming a dangerous super weapon, staying true to the franchise's signature high-stakes action. Regrettably, not every daring sequence could be included in the final cut.

During an appearance on the Empire Spoiler Special Podcast, director Christopher McQuarrie disclosed the unreleased stunt's details. See his quote below:

The final version of the film includes a well-executed train sequence that seamlessly leads into the ending of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. However, despite our initial plans for a controlled and predictable stunt, nothing seemed to go as planned. The actors were forced to take on significant risks, but unfortunately, their efforts did not yield the desired outcome. Following multiple test screenings and receiving consistent feedback about the scene's length, we finally realized what was holding back the sequence. It took days of intense effort and considerable risk, but ultimately, we made the difficult decision to remove it. This decision proved to be the right one as the final version of the scene now shines and enhances the overall film.

Source: Empire