Tom Cruise’s dedication to performing his own stunts is legendary, with each new installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise raising the bar on what’s possible in action filmmaking. Over the years, audiences have been stunned by Cruise’s fearless approach to life-threatening feats—from scaling the world’s tallest buildings to leaping off cliffs into seemingly endless drops. Yet, even for someone as fearless as Cruise, there is one stunt that left him genuinely scared. Simon Pegg, who has been a fixture in the Mission: Impossible franchise since 2006, recently revealed the heart-stopping moment in Rogue Nation (2015) that made even the usually unflappable Cruise uneasy.

For many fans of the series, the image of Tom Cruise hanging off the side of an airborne airplane in Rogue Nation is etched into their memory. It’s a moment that defines the fearless, death-defying spirit of Cruise’s Ethan Hunt. But what many don’t know is that this iconic stunt wasn’t as straightforward as it looked. Pegg, who plays Benji Dunn, a key ally of Ethan Hunt, recently opened up about how this particular scene made even Cruise, a man who has famously braved some of the most dangerous stunts in film history, genuinely nervous.

The Heart-Stopping ‘Rogue Nation’ Stunt That Shocked Even Tom Cruise

In an interview, Simon Pegg shared that when it came time to film the perilous airplane scene in Rogue Nation, Tom Cruise was more than a little concerned. While the actor is known for his daredevil nature and his insistence on performing his own stunts, there was something about being strapped to the outside of a plane as it took off that gave him pause. Pegg admitted that it was the first time he had ever seen Cruise visibly uneasy.

“I had never seen Tom look so worried before,” Pegg recalled. “It wasn’t like he was scared of heights or anything, but this stunt was dangerous on a whole new level.” To make the sequence as realistic as possible, Cruise insisted on being strapped to the actual plane while it was taking off, rather than using CGI or special effects. The aircraft reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour while the actor was clinging to the outside of the plane, and the crew had to shoot it in real conditions—no green screens, no safety nets, just Cruise hanging on for dear life.

Despite the palpable tension, Cruise’s determination to push boundaries shone through. As Pegg noted, “That’s Tom for you. He’ll face anything head-on if it means giving the audience an experience they’ll never forget.”

A Lifelong Passion for Extreme Stunts

For Tom Cruise, this wasn’t the first time he’d risked his life for the sake of a movie. Since Mission: Impossible III in 2006, Cruise has taken part in a string of increasingly dangerous stunts, each one more jaw-dropping than the last. From hanging off the Burj Khalifa in Ghost Protocol (2011) to jumping out of an aircraft in Rogue Nation, Cruise’s commitment to realism and his relentless pursuit of the most extreme stunts possible is unmatched in Hollywood.

Perhaps the most famous of these stunts is his climb up the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. This particular feat saw Cruise dangling from the edge of the skyscraper at dizzying heights, performing intricate maneuvers that required precision, timing, and a deep trust in his own abilities. The sequence became one of the most iconic moments in action movie history, leaving audiences on the edge of their seats and raising questions about whether Cruise had truly gone too far.

Despite the inherent danger, Cruise’s fearless nature continued to drive him forward. In fact, he approached each new stunt with the same intensity, pushing the limits of what was possible on screen. “It’s about the experience,” he once said in an interview. “It’s not just about the stunts themselves, but about what they bring to the character and the audience. I want people to feel what it’s like to be in those situations.”

The Dangers of the Job: A Risky Business

While the stunts Cruise performs on screen may look seamless, the process of executing them is fraught with danger. In order to ensure the safety of everyone involved, extensive preparation is required for each sequence. For example, when filming the Burj Khalifa scenes, Cruise underwent months of training in high-altitude climbing and safety techniques. Even then, precautions were taken to minimize risk, including a team of experts working closely with the production to ensure every detail was perfect.

Yet even with all the precautions, some of Cruise’s stunts have left crew members, including director Christopher McQuarrie, with their hearts in their throats. The fact that Cruise insists on doing the majority of the stunts himself is both a testament to his dedication to authenticity and a source of anxiety for those around him.

In Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018), for example, Cruise performed a high-speed helicopter chase, which involved him piloting the aircraft himself. The stunt was so complex and dangerous that the production team created an entire training program to prepare Cruise for the rigorous demands of flying at breakneck speeds through tight spaces.

A Legacy of Fearless Dedication

What makes Tom Cruise’s approach to stunts so remarkable is not just his willingness to risk his life, but his unwavering commitment to the craft of filmmaking. He has built a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most fearless and dedicated stars, constantly striving to deliver the most realistic, heart-pounding action sequences possible.

As for Simon Pegg, his admiration for Cruise’s determination is evident. “He’s not just doing it for the thrill,” Pegg said. “Tom does it for the audience. He wants them to experience what he’s feeling, to be right there with him. That’s why he’s willing to go to such extreme lengths.”

While fans may marvel at the incredible stunts and action scenes that Cruise delivers on the big screen, they may not fully understand the true danger that lies behind them. From climbing skyscrapers to jumping out of planes, Tom Cruise is willing to face any risk, no matter how terrifying, in order to give his fans the most unforgettable cinematic experience.

In the end, Tom Cruise’s devotion to performing his own stunts not only sets him apart from other action stars but cements his place in Hollywood history as one of the most fearless performers to ever grace the screen.