“(Right after the success of the movie 'July 4th') when the production company representative asked me what I would do next, I replied, 'I just warmed up.' (I still feel) that way. I am in the warming-up stage and I will continue to apply what I have learned so far. I think my career is 'never-ending' because I have many personal goals and films to create.”
Hollywood actor Tom Cruise said during a press conference held at Lotte Cinema World Tower in Seoul on the 8th to promote the movie 'Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning' (hereinafter referred to as Mission: Impossible 8), "I work seven days a week. This is my dream and passion."
The press conference was also attended by director Christopher McQuarrie and actors Simon Pegg (as Benji), Hayley Atwell (as Grace), Pom Klementieff (as Paris), and Greg Tarzan Davis (as Theo Decker).
Set to be released on the 17th, Mission: Impossible 8 depicts the journey of Ethan Hunt (played by Tom Cruise) on a mission amid a life-threatening crisis that threatens all of humanity. It particularly showcases the struggle to control an unprecedented weapon capable of managing all digital information. This film is the first in the Mission: Impossible series to be officially invited to the non-competitive section of the 78th Cannes Film Festival.
At 63 years old this year, Tom Cruise performed high-intensity action scenes without a stunt double despite his age. He swung from one wing of an airplane at 225 km/h while being buffeted by winds at an altitude of 2,438 kilometers or jumped into the ocean to carry out underwater mission scenes. He endured temperatures of minus 40 degrees in the Svalbard archipelago, Norway, located in the Arctic Ocean, to conduct location shooting.
Tom Cruise has led major Hollywood franchises for nearly 30 years, beginning with 'Mission: Impossible' in 1996 as an actor and producer. This is why he continues to perform his own stunts and devote his passion to this series.
Some observers speculate that this work may not be the last in the series. Originally titled 'Dead Reckoning Part 2' following the 2023 release of the seventh installment (Dead Reckoning Part 1), it was changed to 'Final Reckoning.'
In this regard, Tom Cruise noted, "(This work) is the culmination of 30 years of the Mission: Impossible series," while expressing, "I just hope that audiences enjoy it in theaters; I don't want to say more than that." He added, "With every installment, I've worked with the goal that not only the stunts but everything, including the structure and characters, must surpass the previous work."
Tom Cruise is particularly known for visiting Korea whenever a new film is released. This visit marks his record-breaking 12th trip as a Hollywood star. He also met with Korean fans when the previous installment, Mission: Impossible 7, was released in 2023.
In this context, Tom Cruise remarked, "Whenever I go to a new place, I don't just tour but try to embrace that country's culture," adding, "Visiting Korea was one of my dreams. The fact that I have visited 12 times is proof of that."
During the conference, there was also a question regarding the recent statement by U.S. President Donald Trump about imposing tariffs on films produced abroad. Tom Cruise responded, "(I) didn’t hear the question well," and avoided answering.