Watch: Tom Cruise tries dangerous speed flying for Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1

The seventh film in the Mission Impossible franchise – Dead Reckoning Part 1 – is releasing in theatres world-wide on July 12. The film, led by Tom Cruise, has had a few premieres already and the initial reactions have been phenomenal, what with the leading man pushing the ante on the action elements in this instalment. From driving with only one hand for a car chase while handcuffed to Hayley Atwell, to riding a motorcycle off a steep cliff and more, Tom’s done some seriously dangerous stunts in the film.

Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part 1: How Tom Cruise shot a chase sequence, while handcuffed to Hayley Atwell 

With the film still days away from its global release, Tom has been dropping occasional videos from the making, especially of the action sequences, with the latest being the sequence of him speed flying. Described as a form of para-gliding, speed flying allows ‘pilots’ to fly at high speeds down mountain sides.

In the video that he shared, Tom is seen speed flying off the side of a mountain in Lake District, UK, something he had been training for over the last few years. “With Tom, there are no limits, so we become a little more adventurous every time,” director Christopher McQuarrie says in the video, while talking about the stunts in the film franchise. Speed flying he adds, is one of the most beautiful and delicate sports, but it is also one of the most dangerous ones. “Speed flying is incredibly unpredictable. Cross-winds could put Tom in peril,” says Christopher, adding that coming up with the stunts is only one of the technical challenges. “The other is putting a camera in a place that you can see where Tom is operating the speedwing,” he says. The team could not come close with a helicopter or a drone, so, they developed a gimbal system flying along with Tom.

Watch the video here: 

Also starring Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby and Henry Czerny, Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1 opens in theatres on July 12.