The president and chairman of the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, Casey Wasserman, raved about the “Top Gun” star’s participation during the CNBC x Boardroom: Game Plan panel at the Fairmont Miramar hotel in Santa Monica, Calif., on Tuesday.
“He finished filming ‘Mission: Impossible’ at 6 p.m. in London, got right on a plane. He landed in LA at 4 a.m. and filmed the scene where he pulls onto a military plane,” the entertainment executive said, per the Hollywood Reporter .
Tom Cruise did not get a paycheck for his epic stunt to close out the Paris Olympics on Aug. 11. POOL/AFP via Getty Images The “Mission: Impossible” star passed the torch to Los Angeles for the next Summer Games. Getty Images He held the official Olympic flag. Getty Images
Wasserman raved that “every step of the way, [Cruise] got more involved and more engaged” and ultimately did the pretaped stunt for free.
“We’re like, ‘Well, there’s no way we’re getting this. We’re going to get four hours of filming time. We’ll do the thing … with the Hollywood sign, he’ll hand the thing off and he’s done. Maybe we’ll get the other stuff, and the rest will be just a stunt double.’ About five minutes into the presentation, [Cruise] goes, ‘I’m in. But I’m only doing it if I get to do everything,'” he recalled.
The actor, 62, stunned viewers on Aug. 11 when he closed out the Paris Olympics and handed the torch to LA, where the next Summer Games will be held.
Cruise pulled off the stunt to signify the transfer of the games to LA in 2028. Getty Images He even skydived to the famous Hollywood sign. AP
Cruise launched himself from the top of Stade de France and landed on the field, where he grabbed the Olympic flag.
He then took the flag from LA Mayor Karen Bass and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and rode off into the streets of Paris before getting on a plane near the Eiffel Tower.
The video later showed the movie star flying the symbolic flag to California and skydiving to the iconic Hollywood sign before adding the famous five colored Olympic rings to it.
The “Top Gun” star reportedly contacted the Olympic committee to get involved. Abaca Press/INSTARimages Cruise, pictured here on Aug. 10 in Paris, also watched some of the Olympics. Getty Images
“Thank you, Paris! Now off to LA,” he posted on X at the time.
Cruise has yet to publicly discuss his preparations for the death-defying stunt.
However, TMZ reported that he was the one who had approached the committee and expressed interest in getting involved in the closing ceremony.
Cruise was seen spending time with Lady Gaga, pictured here, at the games over the summer. AbacaPress / SplashNews.com He previously raved about the “incredible” athletes. Getty Images
The Oscar nominee was previously seen attending one of the women’s gymnastics matches in July.
“It’s awesome,” he told Reuters at the time. “Great stories, great athletes. It’s incredible what they have to do, the sense of accomplishment.”
Cruise was among several A-listers — including Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga — who flew to the City of Love to watch America take home the most medals.
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