Tom Cruise recorded shouting and swearing at Mission: Impossible crew over Covid issues

The film star can be heard saying ‘if you don’t do it, you’re fired’, reportedly after crew members in Leavesden studios failed to socially distance

Tom Cruise has been recorded screaming obscenities at crew members on his current film Mission: Impossible 7 after apparent breaches of on-set social distancing guidelines.

The Sun published an audio recording of Cruise shouting and swearing at film crew on the project, of which is he one of the producers, threatening instant dismissal of anyone found to be contravening distancing rules.

On the recording Cruise can be heard shouting: “I don’t ever want to see it again, ever! And if you don’t do it, you’re fired, if I see you do it again, you’re fucking gone. And if anyone in this crew does it – that’s it, and you too and you too … don’t you ever fucking do it again.”

“That’s it! No apologies. You can tell it to the people that are losing their fucking homes because our industry is shut down. It’s not going to put food on their table or pay for their college education.”

Cruise appeared to be reacting after crew members were spotted standing too close to each other by a computer screen at Leavesden studios in the UK.

Like all major Hollywood productions, Mission: Impossible 7 has been hampered by potentially catastrophic delays and shutdowns due to the pandemic. Production in Italy was halted in February after authorities banned public gatherings in response to the first wave of coronavirus, but in July permission was given for shooting to restart in the UK after Cruise personally appealed to culture secretary Oliver Dowden. In October, filming in Italy was suspended again after reports of a positive Covid test on set.

Underlying Cruise’s outburst is his sense that the production is functioning as a model for how Hollywood can continue to work under pandemic conditions, with the actor stating: “I’m on the phone with every fucking studio at night, insurance companies, producers, and they’re looking at us and using us to make their movies. We are creating thousands of jobs you motherfuckers … Movies are going because of us. If we shut down it’s going to cost people fucking jobs, their home, their family. That’s what’s happening.”

The film’s production company has been approached for comment.

Contributor

Andrew Pulver

The GuardianTramp

Related Content

Article image
Breaking point: why Tom Cruise is living a mission impossible
Analysis: A leaked recording of the movie star yelling at crew on his latest blockbuster is not evidence of tyranny, but the extraordinary strain of keeping the huge undertaking afloat

Sirin Kale

17, Dec, 2020 @2:42 PM

Article image
Motion impossible: Tom Cruise declares war on TV frame interpolation
It’s over. Now Tom Cruise has set his sights on ‘motion smoothing’ – the TV effect that makes films look like soap operas – it’s only a matter of time before you tweak the settings

Stuart Heritage

05, Dec, 2018 @1:07 PM

Article image
Mission: Impossible for Tom Cruise as Svalbard blocks helicopter landings
Film producers drop attempt to obtain permission for dozens of flights on Norwegian archipelago

Jon Henley and Sam Jones

17, Mar, 2023 @3:30 PM

Article image
Tom Cruise injury halts filming on Mission Impossible 6
Director Christopher McQuarrie says the action star broke ankle during the filming of a stunt which required jumping between buildings and hitting a wall

Gwilym Mumford

17, Aug, 2017 @10:16 AM

Article image
Mission: Impossible – Fallout in cruise control at UK box office
Tom Cruise stunt-fest delivers the franchise’s biggest opening weekend in Britain, while Mamma Mia! sequel hits a high note

Charles Gant

31, Jul, 2018 @11:00 AM

Article image
Mission: Impossible – Fallout review: Tom Cruise remains a pneumatic treat
There is running, there is jumping and there is a fantastic punch-up in the gents: Christopher McQuarrie’s thriller muzzles the quips but never skimps on thrills

Peter Bradshaw

12, Jul, 2018 @9:16 PM

Article image
‘He is taking it to the next level’: the expert verdict on Tom Cruise’s epic Mission: Impossible stunts
Amy Johnston, a stunt veteran of Suicide Squad, Deadpool and more, analyses the new blockbuster’s hair-raising action sequences – and praises the star’s commitment to realism

Andrew Pulver

14, Jul, 2023 @2:38 PM

Article image
Mission: impossible? Tom Cruise’s film crew are lined up to make Rick Astley look cool
As Hollywood strikes drag on, the actor has loaned his team to Astley, who is making a music video. We can only hope the singer makes the most of it

Stuart Heritage

18, Oct, 2023 @1:38 PM

Article image
Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible 7 production temporarily shut down due to coronavirus case
Paramount Pictures pauses filming after a routine test confirms positive Covid case on set

Guardian staff and agencies

04, Jun, 2021 @1:47 AM

Article image
Mission: Impossible – Fallout review – Cruise control and set-piece thrills
Director Christopher McQuarrie brings slick tension and fun to Ethan Hunt’s sixth adventure

Simran Hans

29, Jul, 2018 @6:59 AM