Hollywood megastar dodges tariff question during Seoul press conference
"I enjoy the pressures of making movies. I enjoy the responsibility," Tom Cruise told reporters at a press conference for "Mission: Impossible -- The Final Reckoning" held Thursday at Lotte Cinema World Tower in Seoul. The 61-year-old superstar's visit marks his 12th trip to Korea, cementing his status as the most frequent Hollywood visitor to the country.
Cruise arrived in Seoul Wednesday on a private jet, greeting fans at Gimpo Airport for about 20 minutes. Later, he was spotted in Seoul's Gongdeok neighborhood, as social media buzzed with sightings of Cruise greeting impromptu crowds and posing with children.
Screening of a 15-minute tribute video showcasing Cruise's four-decade career, featuring clips from "Rain Man," "Jerry Maguire," "Minority Report," "The Last Samurai" and culminating with highlights from the "Mission: Impossible" franchise that began in 1996 kicked off the press conference.
"Making movies has been my lifelong dream," Cruise reflected after watching the montage. "I remember being four years old and wanting to make movies and travel the world. I remember making my first starring role when I was 18 and thinking, 'I'm going to dedicate everything I have to cinema and storytelling.'"
The eighth installment in the franchise continues the story from 2023's "Dead Reckoning," following Ethan Hunt and his team as they face a mission against a rogue artificial intelligence that threatens all of humanity. The film features Cruise's most ambitious stunts yet, including wing-walking on a vintage biplane at 140 miles per hour (250 kilometers per hour) and an underwater submarine sequence that presented immense risks.
"The wing walking was very, very intense," Cruise explained. "We were traveling at over 140 miles an hour. Just imagine sticking your face out a car window at that speed, and now picture moving your entire body around an aircraft."
Director Christopher McQuarrie, who has worked with Cruise for 19 years, described their partnership as one that is built on mutual respect and trust. "No ego whatsoever, no pride of authorship," McQuarrie said. "If the idea isn't working, drop it and move on."
Cast members Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Pom Klementieff and Greg Tarzan Davis later joined Cruise on the stage. Pegg, who has portrayed tech expert Benji for 20 years, recalled his journey with the franchise.
"I shot my first scene for Mission: Impossible 20 years ago," Pegg said. "I had no idea when I first walked onto that set that this film would become part of my life for the next two decades."
Klementieff, who is of Korean heritage through her mother, shared how Cruise's knack for adventure influenced her: "Being around Tom is contagious. I saw him do motorcycle jumps in the previous movie and kept asking if I could skydive with the team. When I wrapped, he gifted me skydiving lessons."
When a local reporter asked about how the production might be affected by President Donald Trump's recent announcement of a 100 percent tariff on all foreign-produced films, the moderator, who also served as interpreter, noticeably glossed over parts of the question. Such a tariff could be a major blow for "The Final Reckoning" as the film was shot primarily in the UK.
Cruise and the rest of the cast looked briefly flustered before Cruise claimed he hadn’t caught the question. The moderator quickly stepped in, calling it a “fair answer” and moved on to the next question.
When asked if this would truly be the final "Mission: Impossible" film, Cruise played it coy: "This film is a culmination of the last 30 years of the franchise. I don't want to give anything away for audiences, but I love making these films."
"Mission: Impossible -- The Final Reckoning" opens in Korea on May 17, a week ahead of its May 23 US release.
moonkihoon@heraldcorp.com
