Tom Cruise says he doesn't mind being scared when performing stunts

From left, director Christopher McQuarrie, actors Pom Klementieff, Hayley Atwell, Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg and Vanessa Kirby pose during a press conference at Lotte Cinema World Tower in southern Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

By Kwak Yeon-soo

Hollywood actor Tom Cruise kept his promise to Korean fans by returning to the country just a year after his last visit to promote his new film “Mission: Impossible ― Dead Reckoning Part One.”

Last summer, he visited Korea to promote “Top Gun: Maverick” with his co-stars Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Jay Ellis and Greg Tarzan Davis. The film topped 8 million admissions, becoming the most-viewed foreign film since the COVID-19 pandemic.

This time, Cruise came with director Christopher McQuarrie, actors Simon Pegg, Hayley Atwell, Vanessa Kirby and Pom Klementieff.

“I went out yesterday, had Korean barbeque and walked around saying hello to everyone around the area. I love Korea and how cinema allows us to share commonality and experience,” Cruise said during a press conference at Lotte Cinema World Tower in southern Seoul, Thursday.

Director McQuarrie, who is visiting Korea for the fifth time, said the thing he loves the most about Korea is its people. “They are so lovely, gracious and kind,” he said.

Cruise, who famously does his own stunts in his films, talked about performing “the biggest stunt in cinema history” for this, the seventh installment of “Mission: Impossible,” which involves him driving a motorcycle off the edge of a cliff.

“I have dedicated my life to this art form. I'm constantly training on things to put it in a movie. I fly airplanes, helicopters, jets; skydive and parachute. It is decades of ability focused to do something like this. I'm competent and capable” he said.

He continued, “It's not that I'm not scared. I don't mind being scared. It's important to look to confront it. There is a tremendous amount of pressure, but pressure is a privilege.”

In previous “Mission: Impossible” films, Cruise dangled from the world's tallest building, clung onto the outside of a plane during take-off and performed a military-level high altitude, low opening (HALO) jump.

Actor Tom Cruise is greeted by Korean fans as he arrives at Gimpo International Airport in southwestern Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment

Referring to Cruise as his “creative brother,” director McQuarrie expressed admiration of the superstar's talent. “With Tom, there are no limits. We become adventurous,” he said.

The acclaimed director then shared that action, stunts and spectacle do not matter if creators are not invested in emotion.

“We're using all of our skills ― the great humor, drama and character developments ― together in a manner that's as entertaining as possible to the audience. We care foremost about the audiences' experience,” he said.

Atwell, who newly joined the franchise, talked about performing massive stunts and car chase sequences with Cruise. “He is so meticulous in preparations. Led by Tom and Christopher, everyone comes and thrives. There's a lot of opportunities to try new things,” she said.

Cruise revealed it was McQuarrie's idea to break the film into two parts. “The film is so big and the story is so vast that he said, 'Let's do two movies,'” he said. Part two is slated for release in June 2024.

“Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One” will hit local theaters on July 12.