"Still in the Warming-Up Stage as an Actor"
Clinging to an Airplane Wing at 2,438 km Altitude
Enduring Minus 40 Degrees for Underwater Filming
Tom Cruise's most iconic work is undoubtedly the "Mission: Impossible" series, which he has led as both star and producer for nearly 30 years. The upcoming release, "Mission: Impossible ? Dead Reckoning," set to premiere on the 17th, is widely regarded as the concluding chapter. This perception is fueled by his age (63), which makes performing stunt action increasingly challenging, and by the subtitle's change from "Dead Reckoning Part 2" to "Final Reckoning." When asked about this, Cruise responded with a curious smile, neither confirming nor denying the speculation.
During a press conference held at Lotte Cinema World Tower in Seoul on the 8th, as part of his promotional visit to Korea for "Mission: Impossible ? Dead Reckoning," Cruise was asked whether this film marks the end of the series. He described it as the "pinnacle." He added, "I only hope that audiences enjoy it in theaters; I don't want to say more than that," choosing his words carefully. His restraint was not due to concerns about his age. On the contrary, as an actor, he said he still feels like he is in the "warming-up" stage.
"After 'Born on the Fourth of July' (1990) became a hit, the head of the production company asked me, 'You've succeeded at a young age, so what will you do next?' I replied, 'I've only just warmed up.' I still feel that way today. I have many personal goals and many films I want to make, so I consider it 'never-ending.'"
His performance in "Mission: Impossible ? Dead Reckoning" makes this sentiment understandable. He personally performed Ethan Hunt's journey to save humanity from the threat of AI NTT, without a stunt double. He clung precariously to the wing of an airplane at an altitude of 2,438 km, facing winds of 225 km/h, and leapt into the open sea to perform various underwater stunts. He also braved temperatures of minus 40 degrees Celsius during location filming in the Svalbard Islands at the northernmost tip of Norway. Cruise said, "Honestly, it's scary, but it's just a fleeting emotion, so I don't feel afraid."
"I had to move quickly on a plane spinning at high altitude. It was so tough that I needed to train separately just to breathe. Underwater, visibility was a problem. I wore a 120-pound (about 54 kg) diving suit and filmed for long periods. To avoid injury, I had to be constantly aware of the camera and obstacles. I knew all these stunts would be difficult, but I enjoyed the challenge. Thanks to that, I was able to experience exhilarating moments when adrenaline surged."
This visit marks the twelfth time Cruise has come to Korea with a new film. Since the release of "Interview with the Vampire" in 1994, he has consistently met with Korean fans. He smiled and said, "Whenever I visit a new place, I don't just do sightseeing?I try to embrace the local culture." He added, "Visiting Korea has always been one of my dreams. I believe my twelve visits are proof of that."
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