It was arguably one of the most thrilling moments of Paris 2024. Tom Cruise’s death-defying Olympic stunt to end the games’ closing ceremony was more than 18 months in the making.
The 62-year-old Hollywood legend appeared to be effortless as he leapt from the roof of the Stade de France, accepted the Olympic flag from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and hopped on his motorcycle, all before hopping on a plane, skydiving and turning the two O’s of the Hollywood sign into the iconic Olympic rings.
But behind the fluid camera transitions that followed the Mission: Impossible star from one incredible location to the next were months of preparation and anxiety on the part of the creators.
Cruise reportedly insisted on doing “everything” himself when executive producer and creative director Ben Winston of Fulwell 73 Productions asked him to be the star of the closing ceremony.
The day before the big trick, Winston said Fashion The masterpiece took more than a year to complete, and at times he feared they would never be able to accomplish it.
Actor Tom Cruise jumped from the roof of the Stade de France last night
Actor Tom Cruise performs during the closing ceremony
American actor and film producer Tom Cruise carries the IOC flag during the closing ceremony
American actor and film producer Tom Cruise rides a motorcycle
The Hollywood sign was modified for the 2028 Los Angeles Games
“We’ve been planning this for a year and a half, and we had the idea that it would be really beautiful if we could take the flag from the Paris stadium and have it travel all the way to Los Angeles and then go live and do something spectacular here,” he said.
Cruise’s stunt was followed without a hitch by a secret live concert on Venice Beach featuring top artists including Billie Eilish and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
“One of the things that Los Angeles is most known for is its beaches, so we thought, what if we could steal that flag, bring it to LA, and do a massive, amazing concept on the beach with all these amazing LA artists?” Winston told Vogue.
Revealing Cruise’s dedication to his work, Winston recounted how the actor was filming Mission: Impossible in London when he took an 11-hour flight to Los Angeles, filmed for the Olympic video and flew straight back to the set.
Cruise was fitted with a harness as he launched himself from a ledge in front of thousands of fans and Olympians for the grand finale last night.
Tony Estanguet took up his post as Paris 2024 organiser and thanked everyone for “doing their part” in the Games, while American R’n’B star HER sang and played the American national anthem, Stars and Stripes, on her guitar.
Once safely on land, Cruise received the five-ring Olympic flag from gymnast Simone Biles and the mayor of Los Angeles, and loaded it onto the back of a waiting motorcycle.
Dressed in his signature black leather jacket from Top Gun, the action star emerged from the arena on his feet.
Californians Red Hot Chili Peppers (above), Billie Eilish and Snoop Dogg then offered a preview of what’s to come at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Cruise shared a selfie from the top of the stadium before performing the death-defying stunt.
Tom Cruise jumps from the roof of the Stade de France
The cross-Atlantic shift began with live performances by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish and Snoop Dogg on the beach.
This came after a wild show of performances by artists including a composer playing a piano suspended in mid-air, a “golden traveller” accompanied by dozens of dancers and many acclaimed French musicians.
After the Olympic flag passed between several American Olympians, it arrived at the famous beach where the Red Hot Chili Peppers were playing their hit Can’t Stop.
The rock band then handed the stage over to Eilish, who delivered a sweet rendition of their new song Birds Of A Feather while wearing an oversized T-shirt, shorts and a baseball cap.
Snoop, who has appeared at several events during the Olympics, then hit the beach to perform his classic song Drop It Like It’s Hot alongside fellow American rapper Dr Dre.
