Tom Cruise looks nervous filming 'jaw-dropping scenes' on WWII plane for 'Mission Impossible 8'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Tom Cruise is no stranger to death-defying stunts, especially when he's front and center as the fearless Ethan Hunt in the 'Mission Impossible' series. But it seems even a seasoned daredevil like Cruise gets a little spooked now and then!

Cruise was spotted on Sunday, September 15, preparing for one of his stunts for 'Mission Impossible 8' in Oxfordshire. And no, this wasn’t your typical car chase or rooftop leap - it involved him climbing into the cockpit of a World War II biplane, ready to take to the skies once more.

This time, though, the actor seemed like he had some nerves about the stunt. After all, the stakes are bound to feel a bit higher when you’re 62 years old and piloting a nearly 80-year-old plane.

Tom Cruise getting back in character as Ethan Hunt

As always, Tom Cruise was all-in when it came to embodying his iconic character Ethan Hunt. He donned the character’s signature leather jacket and jumped into the vintage aircraft. The cameras rolled, capturing him soaring through the skies for what promises to be one of the most thrilling final scenes in the eighth installment of the 'Mission Impossible' franchise, the Daily Mail reported.

Cruise has been a licensed pilot since 1994 and even owns several aircraft, so this isn’t completely out of his comfort zone. Still, learning to fly a World War II biplane? That’s next-level commitment right there.

A source told The Sun, “Tom had started to learn to fly a Boeing Stearman biplane earlier this year for a major stunt scene in 'Mission: Impossible 8'. It’s obviously a highly skilled task, but as usual, he has no plans to cut any corners or bring in a stuntman.”

The latest biplane stunt is just one of many jaw-dropping scenes being filmed for 'Mission Impossible 8'. The movie’s production has been quite the rollercoaster ride thus far.

After filming at Longcross Studios, the crew traveled across the UK - shooting in places like Derbyshire, Surrey, and even London’s iconic landmarks like the Natural History Museum and Westminster Bridge.

Back in April, Cruise was seen filming near Downing Street in London, where his character Ethan Hunt was shown kneeling on the road in an apparent moment of surrender.

Filming for 'Mission Impossible 8' originally kicked off between March and December 2022. However, production was paused so that Cruise and the cast could promote 'Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.' Just when things were back on track, the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strikes hit and brought filming to another standstill in July.

By March this year, things seemed to be rolling again. But then another hiccup: a faulty gimbal — an essential camera tool — delayed filming yet again. Despite all these setbacks, production has finally resumed and fans can rest easy knowing that the hotly-anticipated film is back in the works.

That said, it’s not just the technical delays that have made this production challenging; some of the stunts are downright dangerous.

The insider elaborated on the risks: “Filming has only just wrapped on Mission: Impossible 7, but Tom has not given himself a break. And trying to film jaw-dropping scenes with an 80-year-old plane is particularly dangerous.”

'Mission Impossible' competing with Oppenheimer

Tom Cruise and the team behind 'Mission Impossible 8' initially planned to film it back-to-back with 'Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One', which hit theaters in 2023 and grossed over half a billion dollars at the box office. But as luck would have it, the strikes and production delays pushed the release date of 'MI:8' to May 23, 2025.

The box office battle didn’t end there. When 'Dead Reckoning Part One' premiered, Cruise found himself up against Christopher Nolan’s 'Oppenheimer' - which dominated limited screens and overshadowed his film. Despite Cruise’s efforts to extend 'Mission Impossible’s cinema run, 'Oppenheimer' ended up earning nearly $400 million more.

It wasn’t the outcome Cruise had hoped for, especially given the success of previous 'Mission Impossible' films. However, with 'MI:8', Cruise is hoping to bounce back and deliver another blockbuster hit.

As fans eagerly await the release of 'Mission Impossible 8', they can take comfort in knowing that all the franchise’s familiar faces will be back for the ride. Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, and Vanessa Kirby are all reprising their roles alongside Cruise.