'Mission Impossible' Helicopter Shoot with Tom Cruise... Reason for Refusal: 'Protecting Polar Bears'

Producer Requests Landing Permission for 40 Helicopters in Svalbard
Local Authorities Reject, Citing Protection of Polar Bears and Wildlife

The production team of the American Hollywood film series 'Mission: Impossible' attempted to conduct helicopter filming in the Svalbard archipelago of Norway but was thwarted by opposition from local authorities.

Tom Cruise Photo by AP Yonhap News

According to the British Guardian on the 17th (local time), the production company PolarX requested permission from local authorities to land about 40 helicopters for the filming of the movie 'Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One,' scheduled for release in 2024. However, the authorities rejected the request citing "disturbance to wildlife" as the reason.

The Svalbard archipelago is a group of islands with a population of about 2,700, located midway between the Arctic and mainland Norway. It is known as a habitat for various animals including approximately 3,000 polar bears, Arctic foxes, bearded seals, walruses, Svalbard reindeer, and 12 species of whales.

PolarX cited the reason for requesting helicopter landings as "previous works filmed in Svalbard have attracted audiences worldwide and helped increase understanding of the Arctic wilderness and history." However, the Svalbard authorities judged that such helicopter landings for this purpose would be difficult to permit because traffic within the area must be limited.

Local media reported, "This decision is based on Article 73 of the local environmental law, which aims to prevent damage to the natural environment or unnecessary disturbance to the population and wildlife." Kristin Hegelun, head of environmental protection in Svalbard, told local broadcaster NRK, "Recent permissions for landings were for wildlife documentary filming, and film productions require significant activity on the ground."

PolarX appealed the landing denial by the Svalbard authorities to the Norwegian Environment Agency, but this attempt also failed. A spokesperson for the Norwegian Environment Agency stated, "The production company said there are other solutions," and added, "Since the appeal has been withdrawn, we are no longer handling this matter." The specific details of the "other solutions" found by PolarX have not been disclosed. However, according to a legal opinion obtained by local media Svalbardposten from PolarX's legal counsel, it is presumed that a compromise to resolve the situation between the production company and local authorities has been reached.

In this regard, it has been reported that some Svalbard residents have expressed dissatisfaction, suggesting that local authorities may have taken an overly rigid approach toward commercial activities.

Warning sign for polar bears in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway.
[Photo by EPA Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, on the 16th, Tom Cruise, who appeared in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, made only a brief greeting saying, "I am glad to be here," without mentioning the helicopter issue.