Acting in Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One didn't just demand that you learn how to speed-fly and ride a motorbike off a cliff. On the roof of a train speeding at 60 miles per hour, Tom Cruise also had to battle co-star Esai Morales.
The newest Dead Reckoning behind-the-scenes video confirms that Cruise and Morales, the latter of whom portrays the movie's villain, shot the battle sequence practically, which means they were actually tied to the top of a train while it drove down a valley in Norway, reported Variety.
"When we started talking about this movie in terms of a sense of adventure, an action sequence on a train is something we always wanted to do," writer-director Christopher McQuarrie said.
"We wanted to build upon the previous films and apply that knowledge to something practical and real and bring this train sequence to another level."
"There was not a surplus of trains available to be wrecked," he added.
"We had to build the train if we wanted to destroy it. To shoot it practically was extremely challenging. Not just to execute it, but to design all of the different train carts that could function on a real train track."
According to Variety, the train's speed hit the 60 miles-per-hour mark during filming. That might seem crazy to film on, but for Cruise, it's just another day on the set of a "Mission: Impossible" movie.
"I've done fight scenes, but to do them on a moving train is trial by fire," Morales said. "But that's how Tom like to do things."
In a recent featurette, it was revealed that during one of the movie's flying sequences, Cruise reached speeds of up to 50 mph. While speed flying is comparable to paragliding, it is "one of the most dangerous sports in the world," according to McQuarrie.
The flyer stays closer to the hill in order to get greater speed. The likelihood of hitting land rises as you stay nearer the slope, reported Variety.
"It's a very beautiful and delicate sport," Cruise said of speed-flying. "We're gonna do spirals, and we're landing at an incredibly high speed, over 80 kilometres an hour."
The most life-threatening action in 'Dead Reckoning' is Cruise riding a motorbike down a cliff, however, speed flying and fighting while riding a moving train each carry their share of danger.
On the first day of filming, the stunt was executed. Cruise liked it that way since the USD 200 million tentpole's remaining filming would depend on his survival.
"Well, we know either we will continue with the film or we're not. Let's know day one!" Cruise recently told Entertainment Tonight about filming the stunt at the very start of production. "Let us know day one what is going to happen: Do we all continue or is it a major rewrite?"
"I was training and I was ready," Cruise added. "You have to be razor sharp when you're doing something like that. It was very important as we were prepping the film that it was actually the first thing. I don't want to drop that and go shoot other things and have my mind somewhere else. Everyone was prepped. Let's just get it done."
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One opens in theatres July 12 from Paramount Pictures.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.