The Shocking Truth About Tom Cruise's Insane Stunts: An Eye-Opening Dinner With Matt Damon

During a recent interview, Bourne franchise star Matt Damon shared a conversation he had with Tom Cruise about the Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol stunt at the Burj Khalifa. The 2011 film is widely considered to have revived the action franchise, with Cruise famously scaling the exterior of the Dubai skyscraper. According to Damon, Cruise revealed during a dinner that he replaced the film's safety advisor in order to get permission to do the daring stunt.

I once had dinner with Tom Cruise and was fascinated by his ability to perform such daring stunts. He recounted to me the story of his famous building run in the Mission: Impossible movie, revealing that he had been envisioning the shot for 15 years. Despite safety concerns, he persevered and found a new safety guy who was able to make his vision a reality. It was clear to me that his determination and attention to detail were key to his success in the film industry.

“And I just go, ‘Stop!’ That’s where we’re different. When the safety guy says no, I’m like, ‘Well, safety guy says it’s not a good idea.’”

How Dangerous Are Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible Stunts?

Cruise is renowned for his fearless approach to performing stunts in the Mission: Impossible movies, often pushing himself to the limit to achieve daring and realistic action sequences that set the franchise apart from its competitors. While these stunts may seem risky, it's important to note that safety is always a top priority on set, with extensive planning and precautions taken to ensure that each scene is executed as safely as possible.

The level of dedication and preparation involved in executing stunts in Cruise's productions is evident from the behind-the-scenes materials. The helicopter scene in Mission: Impossible – Fallout, for instance, involved extensive planning and training over several months. Similarly, the motorcycle jump in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One required the construction of a large, smooth ramp, which was later replaced using VFX to create the illusion of driving off a rocky cliff. Even the bathroom fight scene in Mission: Impossible – Fallout was carefully set up with invisible foam pads to resemble hard flooring. Despite all the safety measures, accidents may still occur, as was the case when Cruise broke his ankle during a roof jump scene in the 2017 film. Nevertheless, it's apparent that nothing can deter Cruise from pursuing his passion for stunts, as exemplified by his daring climb up the Burj Khalifa in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.

Source: Smartless: On The Road (via CinemaBlend)