Tom Cruise’s Shocking Olympics Paycheck Happened for One Reason

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As a seasoned movie critic with decades of experience under my belt, I must say that Tom Cruise continues to astound me with his unwavering dedication and sheer audacity. The man’s appearance at the 2024 Olympics closing ceremony was nothing short of iconic, and it seems his generous offer to perform all the stunts himself for free was just another testament to his commitment.

’s appearance at the 2024 Olympics closing ceremony became one of the big talking points of the event, with the actor making a special and dramatic appearance to collect the Olympic flag and deliver it to its next destination of Los Angeles. While the production, which included pre-recorded footage of Cruise leaving Paris by plane and skydiving down to the Hollywood sign, seemed like the kind of big budget stunt that the actor’s Mission: Impossible movies have become known for, Cruise himself has a surprising pay packet for his appearance. Absolutely nothing.

It’s well-known that Cruise is among the highest earning actors in Hollywood. However, rather than being paid for his work, he insisted on doing it all for free – his primary requirement was to perform his own stunts. Given his past exploits such as leaping off buildings, mountains, exiting aircraft, and battling on moving vehicles, this demand doesn’t come as a shock. In contrast, his Olympic-style stunt appears relatively tame in comparison.

As President of the LA28 committee, Casey Wasserman discussed the origins of Cruise’s gracious offer. He revealed that when it was decided a 15-minute showpiece was needed for the event, producer Ben Winston thought of reaching out to Cruise about potentially featuring him in the production. According to Wasserman, this is how everything fell into place.

“The most exciting aspect of the tale unfolds when we proposed our concept over Zoom. Originally, it was planned that a person would act as a stunt double in the stadium. We figured there’s no way we could pull off four hours of filming time, so we planned to have the Hollywood sign scene, the object exchange, and then rely on a stunt double for the rest. However, just five minutes into the presentation, [Cruise] said, ‘I’m in, but only if I get to do everything.’

No One Believed Cruise Would Fit the Stunt Into His Schedule

Despite the fact that Cruise had already consented to participate in the project, Wasserman still harbored concerns about whether he could finish everything on time given the strict schedule they were working with. This uncertainty arose as Cruise was also shooting his newest Mission: Impossible film in the U.K. at that point. However, Cruise’s dedication surpassed all expectations.

According to Wasserman, around 6 p.m. in London, he completed filming Mission: Impossible. Afterward, he immediately boarded a flight and landed in Los Angeles at 4 a.m. Subsequently, he filmed the scene where his character boards a military plane in LA. He performed two parachute jumps from this plane, as he wasn’t satisfied with the first one. Later, he was flown by helicopter from Palmdale to the Hollywood sign for further filming from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. After that, he took a helicopter ride to Burbank Airport and returned to London.

It appears that when Tom Cruise makes a promise, he always follows through, no matter the circumstances. His work ethic as a man approaching his 60s is beyond reproach, and his dedication to his craft stands out among his peers. After his stunning performance at the Olympics, everyone’s attention is now focused on his eighth Mission: Impossible film, set to hit theaters on May 23, 2025.

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2024-09-15 18:36