'The Man from Nowhere' Hollywood actor Tom Cruise visited Korea for the 12th time with the movie 'Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning.' He is expected to adorn the 30-year series with action that crosses over various challenges.

On the afternoon of the 8th, a press conference for the movie 'Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning' (directed by Christopher McQuarrie, distributed by Lotte Entertainment, abbreviated as Mission: Impossible 8) was held at the Lotte Cinema World Tower in Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul. The film's main stars, including Tom Cruise, director Christopher McQuarrie, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Pom Klementieff, and Greg Tarzan Davis, attended the event to discuss the work under the guidance of interpreter Jeong Hyun-young.

'Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning' is an action blockbuster film where Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his IMF team members, pushed into a life-threatening crisis that threatens all of humanity, jump into a single mission that all choices lead to. It is the 8th installment of the series, encompassing the 30 years since the first 'Mission: Impossible' premiered in 1996.

Through this latest work, Tom Cruise, who has visited Korea for the 12th time, noted, "Ultimately, movies have become my life. I dreamed of coming to Korea since I was a kid, and I've been able to come 12 times through films." He further expressed his deep affection for the 'Mission: Impossible' series he has produced himself, saying, "I always have the desire to do well. McQuarrie and I often talk about, 'Can't we make it better than this?' I have always thought about the next goal after achieving one. It’s not just limited to stunts but encompasses story, character; everything is about surpassing the previous standards. That’s our goal to achieve."

He elaborated on the 'Wing Walking' action, saying, "McQuarrie and I have always discussed how to make it better, and walking on a plane was one of my childhood dreams. I thought about what it would be like to stand on an airplane wing when I was 6 years old. I was curious about what it would be like if that imagination came true. McQuarrie initially joked, 'Do you want to get on the wing?' Many times, my dreams have become reality while filming, and this was no different."

He continued, "I had to meticulously manage how to make it work. I’ve visited Africa twice, and it wasn't easy physically. I had to focus on how the camera work would unfold and how to get onto the wing. It required time. I usually write down my goals and organize the steps I need to take to achieve them. By doing so, I find new things to learn, adding what I know and acquiring new skills. 'Wing Walking' was the same. I selected the plane, and that plane also had to look good in the movie. It was an old plane, and it was thrilling to think about what I could do on it while flying at 130 miles per hour, facing headwinds, and having to move quickly within it."

Tom Cruise showed strong trust in McQuarrie, who has been working with him on the 'Mission: Impossible' series for 19 years. He said, "It has been an incredible privilege to know McQuarrie for 19 years. He is a master storyteller. Not only does he write stories for actors, but he understands artists and provides details and sophistication accordingly. He is an incredible storyteller who works devotedly. We have already done this together 5 or 6 times."

He also mentioned, "The director shot underwater with me. He directed me while shooting underwater and aerial sequences to move on the wings. When I told him, 'I can’t do it that quickly,’ he said, 'Just try your best.' I replied, 'If I go at this speed, I can't breathe. The wind is too strong.' I had to undergo training for that as well. It was very difficult training. I can’t even begin to explain how challenging it was. I'd like to suggest going on the wing just once."

McQuarrie revealed that he actually went up and stayed on the wing for about 20 minutes. He didn't dive. He stated, "Don't do this," highlighting the need to anticipate everything, even the movement of the wind there." To this, Tom Cruise joked, "While producing 'Top Gun: Maverick,' I learned a bit about jets, and in the end, I became the director’s helicopter Uber pilot. During location shoots, I had to shoot in such remote places that I even filmed with the helicopter myself."

Regarding the long-time partnership, McQuarrie said, "You must never act selfishly. You can't just stick to your own ideas. You should be brave enough to throw them away if they don't work." Tom Cruise responded, "Since I met the director, I have always found his perspective interesting. I think that's the foundation of our friendship. We respect each other’s creativity and creation. He understands what I want well and often elevates it. So I’m really grateful for the patience he has shown."

On the underwater submarine action, which attracted as much attention as 'Wing Walking,' McQuarrie expressed, "The hardest part was the unknown territory. We knew what we knew about aerial scenes and shooting in the Arctic, but we didn’t know what we didn't know. That in itself was terrifying. The difficult part was actually seeing Tom with a mask on; while it looked good for camera work, it wasn't efficient. It was difficult for Tom to breathe underwater. As he inhaled, he ended up breathing in carbon dioxide, making it hard to continue shooting."

Tom Cruise also revealed, "The weight of the dive suit, which goes up to 125 pounds, was burdensome. I kept inhaling oxygen, but the air was trapped in the mask, making it hard to breathe. We had to figure out how to shoot with the camera quickly and get ready for filming again. So the director constantly monitored my condition."

The director added, "Wherever Tom is, we have to be able to see him rotating 360 degrees. Even if it only takes a few seconds for Tom to go anywhere, there are many risk factors. Every time he takes off his mask, emergency personnel are there to inform him that 2 or 4 minutes have passed. They monitored how much carbon dioxide he was inhaling and wanted to remove the mask later on."

The director particularly noted, "Tom had limited visibility. After rehearsing everything outside the water, he had to rely on his memory underwater. It was truly impressive. It was jaw-dropping." To which Tom said, "I didn't want to put any pressure on him every time we filmed. We’ve developed this for over two years; it isn’t straightforward, and we had to discuss things slowly, including the things that aren't visible. However, I believe it's a miracle that such action was born from all this. I wanted to avoid worrying those around me and just tried to get through it and fix things as it came along," he laughed.

Tom Cruise, known for taking on extreme actions himself, stated, "I try to create simplicity within complexity however I can. The movie is amazing. Making a film is about collaborating with various people and dedicating oneself. Fortunately, we have the luck to work with the best talents, and it's great to collaborate with such people. Our growth comes from continuously honing our storytelling. I have felt that it is a privilege to anticipate what we are doing and feel the pressure as well."

He added, "What I have realized is that I enjoy the pressure. I enjoy the responsibility of making a film. People often ask if I'm scared doing extreme things. To be honest, yes, it is scary. However, feeling that emotion is fine and not frightening. I never seek only the safe things from previous experiences. I have already experienced many things that feel safe. But understanding myself and understanding humanity is important. I have always had curiosity about humanity and continue to enjoy learning. I also learn new skills and apply them."

Simon Pegg, who has played the role of Benji for 20 years in the series, shared, "When we first shot 'Mission: Impossible,' I never thought this film would accompany my life for such a long time. It has allowed me to travel the world while filming. It has become a film series with tremendous significance. It's no exaggeration. Just being part of this is very important and meaningful."

He expressed, "If I say I was 10 years old when I first saw 'Mission: Impossible,' I would want to tell you that you will be in this movie someday and grow up like this. It was beyond imagination. The shock of watching the trailer and seeing it unfold on screen was immense." Tom Cruise expressed deep gratitude, saying, "Thank you for being Benji for 20 years."

In the 30-year series, Pom Klementieff expressed her astonishment at Tom Cruise, who has aged from his 30s to 60s, saying, "Unbelievable!" Has there been any change in Tom Cruise’s life through these years of films? Tom Cruise responded, "I enjoy challenges and pressure. I apply that to my personal life and storytelling. I have reflected on how to structure story sequences multiple times. Ultimately, we have to try it out. Achieving it in reality is an unknown area. I enjoy the pressure of where we are going and the uncertainties that come with it. Of course, there are times with no answers. I never know what will happen today. Filming aerial scenes while shooting in Africa required a lot of courage to confront that situation."

He continued, "The sequence was more challenging than I expected. Of course, I knew it would be challenging. We take responsibility here. There was responsibility as an actor and as someone who created this work with the director. There have been uncomfortable moments and very dramatic moments. It wasn't comfortable. But there are always skills to learn and goals to achieve in those dramatic moments when adrenaline is released. When I succeeded as a child, someone asked me where to go from here. The representative of the studio asked me that, and I replied at the time, 'I think I've just warmed up.' I feel the same now. I plan to apply what I learned this time to the next one. There are many personal goals left, and many movies to be made in the future. I work seven days a week, and this is my dream and passion."

At the end of the event, the EBS character Pengsu attracted attention again with a visit to 'Mission: Impossible,' following the previous visit. He amused everyone with the warm welcome from the main characters of 'Mission: Impossible 8.'

'Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning' is set to be released in Korea on the 17th, with its North American release coming on the 23rd.

[Photo] Provided by Lotte Entertainment.

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