Simon Pegg Recalls Tom Cruise’s Death-Defying Stunts in Mission: Impossible Franchise
In a recent interview with PEOPLE, Simon Pegg, who has starred alongside Tom Cruise in every Mission: Impossible film since 2006, recalled some of the actor-producer’s most memorable stunts in the franchise. Pegg, 55, has witnessed firsthand Cruise’s willingness to risk his life for the audience, and he has often found himself telling Cruise that he’s "absolutely nuts" for attempting such daring feats.
According to Pegg, Cruise’s dedication to his craft is unmatched. "He just cares that much about it," Pegg said. "I’ve said, ‘You’re absolutely nuts’ many times to him. But he just cares that much about it." Cruise, 62, has been pushing the limits of action stunts in the Mission: Impossible franchise since its inception in 1996. With the upcoming release of the eighth and possibly final installment, The Final Reckoning, in theaters on May 23, Pegg reflected on some of Cruise’s most impressive stunts.
One of the most notable stunts Pegg recalled was filming the sequence in 2011’s Ghost Protocol, in which Cruise scales the outside of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. Pegg remembered seeing Cruise "hanging there, smiling, this big s— eating grin on his face, like, ‘I’m having the best time.’" This stunt, in particular, showcased Cruise’s fearlessness and willingness to take risks.
Pegg also shared his thoughts on the motorcycle-off-a-cliff scene in 2023’s Dead Reckoning Part One, which he considers one of Cruise’s most impressive stunts. The cast and crew gathered to watch in awe as Cruise performed the stunt, and Pegg described it as a "breath-hold moment." "It was nail-biting, because we’d literally see [Cruise] just disappear, and then we’d have to wait to hear ‘good canopy’ [meaning his parachute opened safely] on the radio," he said.
Another stunt that Pegg found particularly interesting was the opening scene of 2015’s Rogue Nation, in which Cruise grips the outside of a military plane as it takes off. Pegg noted that this was the first time he’d seen Cruise nervous, as there were many variables involved in the stunt that could have gone wrong. Cruise himself recalled that when the plane taxied down the runway, he thought, "Oh, maybe this wasn’t such a good idea." However, he pushed through and completed the stunt, which he believes worked well in the story.
As PEOPLE reports, Cruise’s commitment to performing his own stunts has been a hallmark of the Mission: Impossible franchise. Pegg, who plays Benji Dunn, often finds himself reacting to Cruise’s Ethan Hunt’s seemingly impossible feats. "It’s fun to play the guy who is almost like a member of the audience," Pegg said. With The Final Reckoning set to hit theaters on May 23, fans can expect more high-octane action and death-defying stunts from Cruise and the Mission: Impossible franchise.
The article was originally published in PEOPLE’s special issue, and it features exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes photos from the Mission: Impossible franchise. As noted by PEOPLE, Cruise’s mother saw footage of the plane stunt and said, "Oh, honey, I’m so glad you didn’t fill me in on that one beforehand." This anecdote highlights the risks that Cruise takes to deliver thrilling performances to audiences worldwide.
Additional reporting was done by Erik Forrest Jackson for PEOPLE. PEOPLE’s special edition, featuring more on the Mission: Impossible franchise, is out now.
