‘Mission Impossible 7: Dead Reckoning’ promises to be one of 2023’s best action films. Starring the legendary Tom Cruise in his iconic role as Ethan Hunt, this high-stakes espionage thriller confronts its protagonist with a slew of perilous tasks and ruthless adversaries. This installment, directed by the acclaimed Christopher McQuarrie, who also masterminded the previous two episodes of the franchise, is set to captivate audiences with breathtaking stunts, diverse, stunning settings, and an engrossing narrative that ensures an edge-of-the-seat experience. The global cinematic release is slated for July 7, 2023.
The cinematographic brilliance and awe-inspiring locations featured in “Mission Impossible 7” are one of the film’s significant highlights. Filming spanned across several countries, including Norway, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates, providing viewers with a global spectacle. The sequences set in Dubai are particularly mesmerizing, showcasing Cruise’s audacious stunts atop the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper.
Did you know that the franchise’s most famous stunt scene was captured on the inaugural day of filming? This interesting tidbit was confirmed by director Christopher McQuarrie in an interview with Empire magazine, followed by further insights provided by Tom Cruise himself. The much-discussed motorcycle stunt – where Cruise rides off a cliff edge only to parachute into a free fall – is what we’re talking about. Known for his commitment to performing his stunts without a double, Cruise took it a step further this time, elevating the risk quotient. From a pragmatic perspective, he explained why this daring sequence was shot on day one: should he have been injured or worse, it would have resulted in massive financial losses for the $200 million blockbuster. A reminiscence of his ankle injury on the set of “Mission Impossible 6” reinforces the risks involved, but this stunt proved even more hazardous.
Reflecting on the decision, Cruise recently told Entertainment Tonight, “Well we know either we will continue with the film or we’re not. Let’s know day one!”, he said. “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.”
“Dead Reckoning” is projected to be one of the most substantial Hollywood tentpoles of the summer movie season. Riding the wave of the phenomenal success of “Top Gun: Maverick”, Cruise’s star power is undeniable. The film ended its run as the 11th highest-grossing film in history (unadjusted for inflation), earning $1.49 billion. Although “Dead Reckoning” may not surpass these box office numbers, it’s predicted to outshine 2017’s “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” ($791 million), setting a new benchmark for the franchise.
Adding to the anticipation, at the film’s premiere, Cruise shared his perspective on what sets this installment apart from its predecessors: “This is bigger, this is luxurious. It’s a massive, epic adventure. It’s a part 1 and a part 2 because the story and scale of the film is so big. I make my movies for the theatres, for the big screen, and this is just off the charts,” Cruise said. He described the two-part film as the “culmination of all my skills” and promised even those unfamiliar with the series would have an “epic adventure”.
