Mission Impossible Filmmakers Built A Train And Then Destroyed It For Epic Action Scene In Dead Reckoning

The Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One crew constructed an actual train for Tom Cruise and co-star Esai Morales to fight on. After filming multiple elements of the train setpiece, the crew filmed the destruction of the train.

In a new featurette (via Variety), director Christopher McQuarrie explained, "There was not a surplus of trains available to be wrecked. We had to build the train if we wanted to destroy it." As several scenes are shot in the interior of the train, that included designing the individual train car as well as ensuring they could function on a real track.

Cruise and Morales do battle on the top of the train. This was filmed practically, with both actors strapped on the train as it spend down a valley in Norway. The train hit 60 miles-per-hour during filming. Morales said, "I've done fight scenes, but to do them on a moving train is trial by fire. That's how Tom likes to do things." After finishing the rest of the photography, the crew had to film the train flying off the track. McQuarrie said, "every single camera had exactly exactly one shot at getting it right."

Tom Cruise performed the film's most dangerous stunt, base-jumping after riding a motorcycle off a cliff, on the first day of filming. He wants to continue to star in Mission Impossible films going into his 80s. Dead Reckoning Part One premiers on July 12.