Mission: Impossible - Final Reckoning: What its really like to work with Tom Cruise

Dubai: As Tom Cruise prepares to unleash his final mission with Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning in UAE cinemas on May 21, it’s clear the franchise isn’t just about stunts, speed, or spy games. It’s also about synergy — the kind Cruise fosters with his cast and crew, even when jumping off cliffs or crashing into walls.

Back in 2023, when Dead Reckoning Part One had its grand premiere in Abu Dhabi, I sat down with director Christopher McQuarrie and stars Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, and Pom Klementieff. The setting was cinematic: the yet-to-open Midfield Terminal in Abu Dhabi served as the backdrop for one of the film’s high-octane sequences, and a few hours after our interview, the team would walk the red carpet at Emirates Palace.

While Tom Cruise wasn’t present for the interview but just the red carpet, he dominated the conversation — not as a headline-hogging star, but as a collaborator his co-stars deeply respected.

“Tom lets everyone shine,” said Pom Klementieff, echoing a sentiment that each cast member would reiterate.

A Set that felt like a playground

Klementieff lit up when talking about filming at Abu Dhabi’s still-vacant terminal.

“It was so much fun. I was goofing around the airport because it was empty. That was amazing — you never get an empty airport. It was a beautiful playground,” she said.

That sense of awe was shared by Simon Pegg, who has become a regular in the Mission: Impossible universe.

“We’ve been here in Abu Dhabi for Fallen, and in Dubai for Ghost Protocol. We came back because we love it. The desert, the sandstorms — it’s incredibly cinematic. And imagine having an airport all to ourselves. It was the most incredible film set we’ve had.”

A franchise that’s evolving — Especially for women

For Hayley Atwell, who joined the franchise as the morally complex and multi-layered Grace, the experience was empowering. She recalled meeting Cruise and McQuarrie for a screen test where, refreshingly, there was no predefined role.

“They said, ‘We’re not looking for a character for someone to fit into. We find the actor first — someone we want to work with — and build from there.’ That gave me a lot of agency,” she explained.

Atwell was determined to play a character who wasn't a one-dimensional femme fatale.

“I didn’t want her to be just the Ice Queen or the damsel in distress. She had to be someone with self-doubt, courage, vulnerability — someone human.”

Her collaboration with Cruise, she said, was rooted in mutual trust and shared creative instincts. And the proof? That now-famous Fiat 500 sequence.

“There’s a moment where Ethan Hunt is totally undermined by this little yellow car,” Atwell recalled, laughing. “He turns on the windscreen wipers instead of the engine, then crashes into a wall. It’s hilarious — and very Tom. That moment doesn’t make Ethan look cool, but it makes him endearing. It takes someone secure to allow that.”

Behind the scenes, Cruise Is watching — and elevating

Klementieff emphasised that Cruise wasn’t just an on-screen adrenaline junkie. He was fully invested in his co-stars’ performances.

“He’s always on set, always watching. He’s always asking, ‘Do you need anything?’ He’s the most generous person and the best scene partner.”

Director Christopher McQuarrie confirmed that Cruise’s philosophy is all about strengthening the entire film, not just his own scenes

.“There’s never the danger of Tom making it about Tom,” McQuarrie said. “He knows the audience follows the protagonist, but the emotional weight comes from the supporting cast. He makes sure those roles matter.”

According to McQuarrie, many of the most emotional or thrilling moments are filmed with supporting actors first — with Cruise waiting patiently for his turn, building the tension from their reactions.

The Final countdown

Now that Final Reckoning is out this week, there’s strong speculation this may be Cruise’s last outing as Ethan Hunt. Whether it is or not, one thing’s for sure: the legacy he leaves behind isn’t just about high-speed stunts and death-defying leaps — it’s also about empowering everyone around him.

As Simon Pegg put it, cheekily but sincerely:

“I try to make it as much about me as possible,” — earning a room full of laughter.

Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning is out in UAE cinemas on May 21