Everything It Took For Tom Cruise To Drive A Motorcycle Off A Cliff – SlashGear

While a younger Tom Cruise would have likely been every bit as dedicated as the 60-year-old version, this shot could not have been filmed even just a few years ago. While the core elements — bikes and parachutes — have been around for decades, the drones and cameras needed to capture the action just didn’t exist.  

The director and his team also have to select the lens, platform, and medium that will produce the best shot. The movie’s writer and director Christopher McQuarrie said: “Coming up with the stunt is only one of the technical challenges, the other is putting a camera in a place where you can see what Tom is doing” (via Paramount Pictures India).

They also had to select the perfect location. The scenery is as much of a part of the shot as anything else, and a cliff edge in Norway was chosen for this costarring role (via The Daily Mail).

In total, Cruise made the jump six times. The movie’s promotional materials call it “the biggest stunt in cinema history” and director Christopher McQuarrie described it as “the most dangerous thing we’ve ever attempted,” according to Paramount Pictures India. Both present a compelling point, and it certainly shows that Tom Cruise has no interest in slowing down any time soon. Despite hitting 60, the action star might be putting his body and his car collection on the line to make his movies just that little better for a long time to come.