Hollywood star Tom Cruise (64) showcased his beloved series, 'Mission: Impossible - Final Reckoning', expressing both affection and strong confidence.
At the press conference for 'Mission: Impossible: Final Reckoning' (hereafter 'Mission: Impossible 8') held at Lotte Tower in Jamsil, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 8th, Tom Cruise said, "The series that I poured my dreams into from the beginning is 'Mission: Impossible', and now it has become the 8th installment, reaching its peak and coming to a finale. In the meantime, I have also turned 60."
He explained, "For me, age is both special and not special. I have always enjoyed challenges, set goals, and worked hard to move forward, and that’s just how time has passed." He added, "In the meantime, I have developed my cinematic skills, gained various know-how, and I am currently striving to incorporate these into my work and apply them to advanced techniques."
He emphasized, "I don't think there are any personal downsides to getting older. Learning and moving on to the next stage is everything in my life. Showing the results to the audience and sharing them is my unchanging dream."
He continued, "The conclusion is that I am only getting better," expressing confidence, "This work has been particularly upgraded in every aspect, not just in scale but also in storytelling. I dare say it is the pinnacle of the series I have created over the past 30 years."
As the 'God of Action', he also performed 'wing walking' action while standing on a flying airplane in this film. He confessed, "It was scary. It was really not easy."
He said, "I told the director that I couldn't move at this speed on the plane. I said I couldn't breathe. The wind was so strong that I couldn't catch my breath. I trained accordingly and did breathing exercises. It was a task that required a lot. I also did difficult training," adding, "I even told the director to try standing on the wing himself and coached him for 20 minutes."
He also mentioned, "It's hard to stick my face out of a car, so I wondered if I could endure standing outside. I do a lot of extreme actions, and honestly, it's scary. However, that feeling is not frightening. Looking back at what I've done, I haven't just sought safety," joking, "Having done so much, everything feels safe."
Meanwhile, this is Cruise's 12th visit to Korea, the most among Hollywood stars. He has consistently met with Korean fans since his first visit for the movie 'Interview with the Vampire' (1994).
Cruise expressed his affection, saying, "A truly beautiful country, a country that always moves me, Korea," adding, "Korean citizens always warmly welcome me and treat me kindly. I am happy and honored to return with my cherished and beloved new work. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to entertain many people."
He also stated, "Movies are my dream, and coming to Korea is the same," saying, "It has been a dream of mine to come to Korea for a long time. I can't believe it's already my 12th time. Is this reality? It also means that my film career has been long. I am proud to share this work, which is my dream and goal, once again with Korean fans," smiling as he exclaimed, "Amazing Korea!"
At the press conference, in addition to Tom Cruise, director Christopher McQuarrie and actors Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Pom Klementieff, and Greg Tarzan Davis were also present. They will participate in a red carpet event at the Lotte World Ice Rink starting at 5 PM after the press conference.
'Mission: Impossible: Final Reckoning' is an action blockbuster where 'Ethan Hunt' (Tom Cruise) and the IMF team members, faced with a life-threatening crisis that threatens all of humanity, dive into a single mission that all choices lead to.
It will be released on May 17.
