Hollywood actor Tom Cruise appeared in Tokyo on May 7th to promote the latest installment in the long-running Mission: Impossible franchise, Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning. During the press conference, a surprise announcement revealed that Japan would host special advance screenings of the film from May 17th to 22nd, ahead of its official release on May 23rd.
The event opened with a montage of Cruise’s film career, highlighting iconic scenes and his contributions to cinema over the decades. The emotional video moved some audience members to tears. Following the screening, Cruise and fellow cast members participated in an in-depth Q&A session, offering insights into the new film and their experiences on set.
A day earlier, Cruise and his co-stars attended the Japan Red Carpet premiere at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. After that, they watched the completed film alongside invited fans. For many of the cast, it was their first time seeing the final cut. The screening ended with a standing ovation, underscoring the film’s emotional impact. Cruise expressed his gratitude, saying, “It was a beautiful and very special experience. I wanted the cast to see it for the first time with an audience. Films like Top Gun: Maverick, Dead Reckoning, and now Final Reckoning have taken seven years to complete. Final touches, like subtitles, were just finished two days ago. Making movies like this takes time and the full effort of many people.”
Director Christopher McQuarrie joined Cruise onstage to discuss the film’s demanding stunts. Among the standout sequences is an aerial scene where Cruise clings to a vintage biplane mid-flight at over 2,400 meters, moving at 225 km/h. Cruise described the challenge of performing a “wing walk” at that altitude: “The wind pressure was so strong I could barely breathe. I had to focus on my breathing and use every muscle just to stay balanced while acting.” He called it one of the most difficult stunts of his career.
Another high-risk stunt involved deep-sea diving. Cruise wore a specially designed wetsuit and oxygen mask that could only be used for 10 minutes at a time due to the risk of hypoxia. He and McQuarrie communicated underwater using hand signals. The director added that Cruise not only performed all his own aerial maneuvers but also operated the camera and lighting equipment himself during flight scenes, calling it “a one-man show unlike anything we’ve seen in cinema.”
The cast attending the press conference included Simon Pegg (Benji), Pom Klementieff (Paris), Hayley Atwell (Grace), and Greg Tarzan Davis (Degas). Pegg, who joined the franchise in Mission: Impossible III, reflected on his long relationship with the series. Cruise noted he personally asked Pegg to join the project, praising his comedic instincts, acting skills, and team spirit. “Working with Simon is always a joy,” he added.
Atwell, who returns as Grace, spoke about her character’s evolution from a lone wolf to someone willing to fight for a greater cause. Klementieff hinted that viewers would see more of Paris’s vulnerability, while Davis suggested his character Degas faces a pivotal moral decision in this film, questioning whether Ethan Hunt is truly making the right choices.
When asked what drives him, Cruise responded, “I’m always looking for the next summit. I don’t wait for permission to create—I commit and make it happen. Life is an adventure. Yes, fear exists, but the key is to keep moving forward.” On how the story for Final Reckoning began, McQuarrie said, “Each time we finish a film, there’s always something we wish we could improve. Just yesterday, Tom looked at the end credits and said, ‘We can go further.’ That’s the mindset every time.”
McQuarrie emphasized that roles in the film are often written specifically for the actors they want to work with, not cast after the fact. “Everyone on this stage is here because they were chosen for their unique presence and what they bring to the story.”
Cruise credited McQuarrie’s storytelling for elevating the franchise and revealed that from their first meeting, he knew they would be lifelong collaborators. “He draws out the humanity of the cast, even parts they may not know themselves, and uses that to build the story,” he said.
Asked whether he ever imagined Mission: Impossible would become such a lasting series when the first film debuted nearly 30 years ago, Cruise said he didn’t take that for granted. He noted that even with Top Gun, developing a sequel took time because he wanted to grow as a storyteller. Reflecting on the franchise’s evolution, he said he’s always studied what audiences responded to and sought to improve with each entry. “People sometimes say, ‘If Tom Cruise is in it, it’ll be a hit,’ but that’s not true. It’s about the story and the characters,” he said. “Every time, I think: How can we make it better?”
Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning continues the narrative from Dead Reckoning Part One, following Ethan Hunt as he battles against the rogue AI known as “The Entity.” The title suggests weighty themes of closure and legacy, prompting speculation about whether this might mark the end of Ethan’s journey. The film will be released simultaneously in Japan and the U.S. on May 23rd, with early screenings from May 17th to the 22nd. Details are available via the film’s official website and participating theater sites.
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