As a gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in action-packed, death-defying video games, I can’t help but marvel at Tom Cruise’s real-life performance during the Paris Olympics closing ceremony. Casey Wasserman, the LA28 president and chairperson, shared an incredible behind-the-scenes story about landing Cruise for this spectacle, and it’s nothing short of mind-blowing.
A month has passed since Tom Cruise’s stunning performance at the Paris Olympics closing ceremony, and the topic is still a hot one. By “people,” I mean at least one individual (today), and it so happens to be the person you’re eagerly waiting to hear from: Casey Wasserman.
The president and chairperson of LA28, commonly known as the mogul, shared some fascinating insights behind the scenes on Tuesday afternoon about securing Tom Cruise for his breathtaking stunt that will undoubtedly set the tone for the upcoming Olympics in Los Angeles in four years. Regarding this performance: In a scene reminiscent of “Mission: Impossible,” Tom Cruise leapt from Stade du France, landed within the stadium, navigated through a throng of spectators, received the official Olympic flag from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and gymnast Simone Biles. Afterward, he zoomed off on his motorcycle in Paris, drove it onto a plane near the Eiffel Tower, and then mysteriously reappeared in a pre-recorded segment by parachuting into the hills behind the Hollywood sign.
During a panel discussion at Fairmont Miramar Hotel and Bungalows in Santa Monica, Wasserman playfully commented on how swiftly someone managed to reach L.A., he said. This session, titled We Got Next: LA 2028, was hosted with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, LA28 board member Jessica Alba, Team USA managing director Grant Hill, and moderator Andrew Ross Sorkin of CNBC’s Squawk Box. Upon being asked to share the story behind the events, Wasserman obliged.
Wasserman shared that they discovered they were creating a live TV show lasting for fifteen minutes. To tackle this task effectively, Wasserman recruited what he believes is the most skilled individual in the world – Ben Winston, a renowned super producer and expert in live television. Wasserman went on to express his admiration for Winston, stating that after joining the team, Winston came up with two innovative concepts. One idea was centered around Cruise, while the other involved making the Olympic rings emerge from the ocean, similar to a magic trick by David Blaine.
However, after arranging a meeting with Cruise on Zoom to discuss the concept, it soon became apparent that not only was he eager to participate in the segment, but he also expressed his desire to perform all the dangerous stunts himself, just as he does in the Mission: Impossible series.
Wasserman shared that the most intriguing aspect of the story was initially proposed over Zoom, involving a person serving as a stunt double within the stadium. Wasserman and their team responded, thinking there’s no chance we could pull this off given the four hours of shooting time. They planned to have L.A. (with the Hollywood sign) hand off the object, and then leave the rest to a stunt double. However, about five minutes into the pitch, Tom Cruise interjected, ‘I’m on board, but only if I can do it all.’
Following the conclusion of the Zoom meeting, Winston subsequently phoned Wasserman. “He said, ‘Try not to get too worked up. He enjoys these kinds of activities, but once his team learns about all the shooting days required and rehearsals, this project won’t move forward. I assure you I have it under control, but it simply won’t happen.’ And indeed, as things progressed, he became increasingly involved and enthusiastic.
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, I proudly shared that our initial concept involved a masked stuntman handling the intense tasks, but Tom once again defied expectations. “I truly believe there’s no one quite like him on this planet,” I expressed, leading Fulwell 73 Productions. “He’s an unparalleled collaborator.
Besides immersing himself completely in the project, Wasserman shared that Cruise, along with everyone else involved, undertook the task without receiving any payment. This dedication is all the more remarkable given the demanding tasks that Cruise had to accomplish for the filming. The story goes that he completed filming for Mission: Impossible at 6 p.m. in London, hopped on a plane immediately, landed in L.A. at 4 a.m., filmed the scene where he boards a military aircraft. In Los Angeles, he performed two jumps from the aircraft. He wasn’t satisfied with the first one, so he did another jump. Then, he helicoptered from Palmdale to the Hollywood sign, filmed between 1 and 5 p.m., helicoptered to Burbank Airport, and flew back to London.
During today’s panel, another entertaining moment arose as Wasserman shared that they successfully filmed at the Hollywood sign thanks to one of those strange, fortunate Los Angeles occurrences. He was referring to the fact that the cameras constantly monitoring the area around the Hollywood sign happened to be off when Cruise was nearby. “I can’t explain it, Andrew,” Wasserman joked, “the cameras malfunctioned on that day and we managed to pull it off.
To set the facts straight, it’s been verified that the Hollywood Sign Trust was indeed involved in the security camera malfunction. As Jeff Zarrinnam, chairman of the trust, previously explained to NBC Los Angeles, “Even our own surveillance cameras, meant for security purposes, were deactivated and not capturing footage during this prank.
As a dedicated fan, I couldn’t help but share my admiration during that exhilarating panel discussion. Wasserman didn’t miss the chance to applaud Paris and its people. “The French team truly deserves recognition,” he pointed out. “They rekindled our love for the Olympics. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a truly beautiful, globally engaged city with the means, timing, and chance to make the most of what the Olympics can offer, and they nailed it spectacularly.” To me, their greatest achievement was igniting the spirit of the French people. The stadiums were bustling with enthusiasm, and the results for the French teams were nothing short of remarkable.
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2024-09-11 09:54