Tom Cruise’s Underwater Sequence In ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ Almost Turned Deadly

What makes the sequence even more jaw-dropping isn’t just what’s on-screen, it’s what happened behind the scenes. According to the film’s stunt coordinator Wade Eastwood, Cruise was temporarily trapped underwater while shooting the scene. And while that sounds terrifying, it’s also vintage Tom Cruise: risking everything to make movie magic feel as real as possible.

Speaking on the Empire Film Podcast, Eastwood opened up about the intense reality of the sequence. “Tom does not want an audience disconnected,” Eastwood explained. “He doesn’t want them to be cheated… He just wants to do it for real as much as he can.” That philosophy led the production team to avoid CGI and instead film the entire underwater sequence practically. 

At one point, Cruise became trapped underwater due to a piece of set debris or gear entanglement. Fortunately, thanks to his extensive training, Cruise remained calm. “It wasn’t bad,” Eastwood clarified. “Because Tom can hold his breath for a long time. Before he had even finished being trapped, I was already pulling the thing off him.”

Still, the idea of getting stuck underwater during filming is nerve-wracking. However, Cruise’s unshakeable dedication to realism in filmmaking once again pushed the boundaries of what’s possible in action cinema. Moreover, it’s that kind of commitment that separates ‘Mission: Impossible’ from other action films. 

Tom Cruise And Ana De Armas Spark Dating Rumors After Praising Each Other

While Tom Cruise continues to capture headlines with his daredevil stunts, he’s also been making waves off-screen. This is particularly due to his rumored relationship with ‘Ballerina’ star Ana de Armas. The two are set to co-star in the upcoming action-thriller ‘Deeper.’ However, it’s Cruise’s public support for Ana’s latest project that has tongues wagging.

‘Ballerina’, a spin-off set in the John Wick universe, is generating considerable buzz ahead of its June 6 release. During promotions for ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’, Cruise took a moment to sing the film’s praises and specifically Ana’s performance. “John Wick, I love that franchise and what those guys do,” he said in an interview with the Associated Press. “Now they have Ballerina coming out with Ana, that’s outstanding.”

Ana’s response to Cruise’s endorsement was warm and genuine. “You know what, he supports every movie. He really wants the industry and cinema to do well and (wants) people going to the theatres,” she said in a chat with Variety. “It is very special that someone like him is supporting Ballerina. It is really special in general to have other actors and people supporting each other. We can do well all together.”