Refusing to Give Up Despite Broken Ankle, Tom ‘Built Different’ Cruise Crawled Out of Scene to Get Past Camera in $791M Movie: “Because I knew this is the take”

Refusing to Give Up Despite Broken Ankle, Tom 'Built Different' Cruise Crawled Out of Scene to Get Past Camera in $791M Movie
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Even as a celebrity whose career has been defined by daring stunts, Tom Cruise is pushing the envelope with his high-stakes adventure. The actor-producer has a reputation for performing all of his own stunts in the Mission: Impossible movies. 

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He is renowned for both his action-packed films and his commitment to pulling off all of his own stunts. Thus, it is truly amazing to see all that the 60-year-old actor has accomplished in the action genre. Whether it be flying a helicopter in Mission: Impossible — Fallout or running down the tallest building in the world in Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol, he is astonishing in all. 

Well, did you know that the Top Gun actor overexerted himself while filming a scene for the 2018 Mission: Impossible – Fallout? And alas, he broke his ankle as a result? 

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Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise

Despite the seriousness of the wound, Cruise battled through the discomfort to finish the scene, enhancing his standing as a committed and fearless performer.

READ MORE: “My life is in your hands”: John Krasinski Put His Wife Emily Blunt in More Danger Than Tom Cruise Ever Did

Tom Cruise Performs The Most Dangerous Stunt in Mission: Impossible 6

Tom Cruise has established himself as a true action star, thanks to his contributions, and since the start of his career, he has only improved with each new stunt. 

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The actor can attest to the fact that he has struggled with injuries before. Every time a new movie comes out, he pulls off the seemingly unachievable action, with higher stakes than ever. Every time, he reinvents himself; he is dedicated to his craft and will go to any lengths to finish a scene, even if it means suffering through the pain of a broken ankle.

He once more demonstrated his unwavering dedication to his craft while filming Mission: Impossible — Fallout, engaging in a rooftop chase with co-star Henry Cavill. The stunt scene left the 60-year-old actor critically injured and briefly forced the production to stop. 

Tom Cruise Performs The Most Dangerous Stunt in Mission: Impossible 6
Tom Cruise Performs The Most Dangerous Stunt in Mission: Impossible 6

This is true that even a carefully choreographed action scene can occasionally go wrong, but it is up to the actor to decide how to proceed. 

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You would think that Cruise would request to be admitted to an emergency room, but instead, the actor was more concerned with whether they would be able to complete the take.

READ MORE: “No, her hips don’t lie, they don’t”: After Hayley Atwell Split, Tom Cruise Finally Breaks Silence on the Woman He Allegedly Wanted to Date Next

Tom Cruise’s Broken Ankle Shot Was Added In The Scene 

Director, Christopher McQuarrie, stunt coordinator, Wade Eastwood, Tom Cruise, and his co-star Simon Pegg discuss the daring scene in a behind-the-scenes video from the 2018 movie. In the finished scene, The Mummy actor is seen leaping from scaffolding on one building to what appears to be the rooftop of the other.

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However, the actor broke his ankle while jumping, twisting his leg as he did so to lessen the force of hitting the attached wall. Despite his pain, Cruise struggled to his feet and wriggled past the camera to spare the scene.  

The intended scene, according to McQuarrie, was originally just a “small bit of action that joined two acts together,” but it later “grew in size and in complexity.”

Tom Cruise attempted to make the landing on the first two attempts, but it was too difficult. He described the scene in detail:

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“First two takes I went in quite hard, and it knocks the wind out of you, but it looks cool so I was like, ‘alright.’… Put my foot out literally for a split second to try to soften the impact just a hair. I looked down … [inhales in pain] I crawled over the wall just to get past camera because I knew this is the take.”

Tom Cruise's Broken Ankle Shot Was Added In The Scene 
Tom Cruise’s Broken Ankle Shot Was Added In The Scene

Cruise’s ankle snapped as a result of the impact, but that was not the worst of it. He asked the cameraman, “Did you get that?” as McQuarrie recalled. It was actually included in the movie that the Jack Reacher actor has broken his ankle.

After Mission: Impossible — Fallout, Cruise appeared in Top Gun: Maverick, which went on to earn the most acclaim and money for the actor in his illustrious career. Later this year, he will make a comeback on the big screen with Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. 

Nevertheless, despite the dangers, Cruise’s willingness to push himself to the limit is evidence of his love for his profession and his dedication to the Mission: Impossible series. 

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Significantly, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One has locked down a release date of July 12, 2023. 

READ MORE: “Peak Tom Cruise”: ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ Tracking to Earn $35M More Than ‘The Flash’ Opening Weekend Collection

Source- Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) | Behind the Scenes

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Written by Siddhika Prajapati

Articles Published: 1510

Between everyday normalities and supernatural abnormalities, Siddhika Prajapati finds the story in everything. Literature Honors Graduate and Post-Graduated in Journalism (from Delhi University), her undying need to deduce the extraordinary out of simplicity makes her a vibrant storyteller.

Serving as a Senior Entertainment Writer at Fandom Wire and having written over 1500 pieces, Siddhika has also worked with multiple clients and projects over the years, including Indian Express, India Today, and Outlook Group.

Who knows, maybe your next favorite persona on the screen will be crafted by her.