International TV Co-Editor
Tom Cruise to Take on 'Mission Impossible' at Paris 2024 Olympic Games Closing Ceremony
Come on, Insiders. Jesse Whittock here with a preview of the latest international TV and film news, as the Olympic flag left Paris and began its long journey to LA — definitely not Mission Impossible.
Tom Cruise comes along to steal the show
Cruise control: Like a moth to a flame or a teenage girl to a Taylor Swift concert, Tom Cruise is drawn to entertainment events around the world. And half the time, he has a stunt in mind. Sunday's Olympic Games closing ceremony provided a perfect example. Though Cruise was in the crowd for the entire three weeks of sporting competition, rumors swirled in Hollywood that he would make a Mission Impossible-style entrance as the event wrapped up in Paris and the Olympic torch was literally and figuratively passed to 2028 host LA. So it came as no surprise when the Top Gun star was spotted on the ledge of the Stade de France before rappelling into the middle of the stadium to join LA Mayor Karen Bass and gymnast Simone Biles, who had been given the Olympic flag to take back to the states. He then jumped on a motorcycle, strapped on the flag and made an exit, prompting one commentator to suggest: "Tom's going to ride this straight to Los Angeles." A pre-recorded stunt saw Cruise jumping out of a plane and landing on the Hollywood sign to pass the baton to a group of Team USA Olympians. All that, plus performances by The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Billie Eilish, Snopp Dogg and Dr. Dre on the beach. What a show. The LA Games are expected to be the most starry in years, and Cruise and co. certainly brought Hollywood to the French capital this month.
