Directing a Mission: Impossible movie means managing high-stakes, nerve-wracking stunts—especially when your star, Tom Cruise, famously performs them himself. Director Christopher McQuarrie recently shared his unique approach to handling stress while filming Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning, revealing why staying calm on set was essential.
In a recent interview with Deadline, McQuarrie explained the meticulous safety protocols used during production, particularly highlighting an aerial stunt that was shot early on. These protocols included extensive briefings designed to identify distractions, referred to as “ducks.” McQuarrie described the process:
“We had these briefings before every flight… they were very meticulous. At the end of every safety briefing, our safety guy would say, ‘Does anyone have any ducks?’ A duck was anything causing you stress or anxiety that was distracting you… If there were three ducks, you didn’t fly.”
This strict system made McQuarrie realize the importance of clearing his own mind to maintain focus and safety:
“I realized I couldn’t have any ducks at all. I could not be afraid of time. I couldn’t be afraid of the usual pressures of production. I had to be as open-minded as humanly possible, so that I knew I wasn’t overlooking anything.”
With Final Reckoning featuring complex, high-risk stunts—including Cruise hanging off an airplane wing thousands of feet above the ground—this mindset was vital. Despite the immense pressure associated with directing one of the most expensive films ever made (reportedly around $400 million), McQuarrie emphasized that keeping a clear head was essential for the project’s success.
Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning arrives in theaters on May 23.