Tom Cruise has leapt from great heights under the guidance of Ben Winston, co-founder of Fulwell73 and creative producer of the Los Angeles Olympics 2028 handover, one time before.
This time, however, it was different. The whole world was watching.
Cruise, who previously jumped out a plane alongside James Corden on The Late Late Show, which was exec produced by Winston, revved up the Paris Olympics closing ceremony Sunday as he started the engine on the handover to L.A. for the 2028 Summer Games.
After Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo passed the Olympic flag to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (the first Black woman mayor to receive the official Olympic flag during a Closing Ceremony), and Simone Biles (the most decorated U.S. female gymnast of all time), Cruise leapt into the Stade de France before taking off on his motorcycle.
RELATED: Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony In Pictures
The Mission: Impossible star, who interrupted filming of the latest installment of the action movie franchise to perform the stunt, then leapt from a plane to the Hollywood sign, passed the baton to Team USA Olympians including mountain biker Kate Courtney, track and field legend Michael Johnson and two-time Olympic medalist skateboarder Jagger Eaton, who took it to the beach — literally.
Tom Cruise on Sunday in Paris Courtesy LA28
Winston told Deadline that what viewers of the ceremony saw was almost identical to what he pitched Cruise, with one small difference.
“I said to [Cruise], H.E.R. does the national anthem, she starts rocking out her guitar. We see a man on the roof in a balaclava. He jumps off the roof, he grabs the flag, he drives through Paris, gets on the back of a plane, takes his balaclava off and we reveal it’s you,” Winston said. “[Cruise] said ‘I absolutely love it, I’m 100% in.’ I remember how excited he was. He said, ‘There’s only one thing. There is no way that you’re going to use a stuntman. ‘It’s me on that roof, I’m jumping, I’m doing it all. There’s no man in a balaclava’.”
This was a year and a half ago. Winston explained that with a stuntman it would only require one day of filming, rather than five or six. “He was like, ‘We either do it and we do it wholeheartedly and we do it fully, or we don’t do it,’ ” Winston added. “He’s an incredible man, and just the single greatest collaborator you could ever work with. He’s inspiring. He’s hardworking, kind to everybody around him.”
After the Olympians took the flag across the city, there were performances by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who performed “Can’t Stop” from their By the Way album, followed by Billie Eilish playing “Birds of a Feather” on the top of a lifeguard tower. Then Snoop Dogg, arguably one of the breakout stars of the Olympics, performed “Drop It Like It’s Hot” and teamed with Dr. Dre on a surprise performance of “The Next Episode.”
Red Hot Chili Peppers Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for LA28
“There’s a lot of amazing L.A. artists, there’s a few other amazing hip hop stars like Kendrick Lamar being one, but those three were my first choice,” Winston said. “They were in my original deck before they even said yes a year and a half ago. I was so certain that when I was pitching the idea I already had Red Hot Chili Peppers on as the soundtrack to the Tom Cruise film,” Winston added.
Winston, whose Fulwell73 produces series such as Hulu’s The Kardashians, said he took his first meeting with LA28’s Casey Wasserman in January 2022.
The majority of it was shot live, although Winston admitted that some of it wasn’t able to be shot live due to security concerns on the beach. “Some people have said none of it was live. Some said all of it’s live. Actually, it’s a bit in between, but for various different issues, because obviously you’re exposed in the middle of the beach, and we had to keep it quiet what was happening for security reasons. If it had leaked where we were or what was happening, then we would have been shut down. I’m very aware that we can’t afford to be shut down, because we’re live to a billion people globally. It was a complicated project,” he added.
The Grammys exec producer admitted it was a bit tense. “It was a very stressful one. It was probably my highest stress levels I think I’ve ever had in my career. We had some tech issues connecting from Paris to L.A. You’re combining so many elements that have to be played, and you’re also kind of at the mercy of the Olympic broadcasting team, and the Paris team. There was a lot of technical stuff that was tricky and testing, and then you’re also aware that the biggest movie star in the world was about to jump off a roof,” he added.
(L-R) Ben Winston and Tom Cruise Fulwell73
Winston and his team have plenty of experience in live television with projects such as Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodgers Stadium and Adele: One Night Only.
The live shows were directed by Hamish Hamilton, who has also directed a lot of live television. Glenn Clements collaborated with Winston on the film, Dave Piendak and Raj Kapoor served as producers, Patrick Menton oversaw talent, and Misty Buckley and Gloria Lamb led set design for the beach concerts.
“It’s a bit like when you have a baby and the baby comes and you’re like, ‘Oh my god, this is a nightmare stress, they’re sick on you and need changing and then they turn 3 and they’re really cute and you’re like ‘Let’s do that again.’ That’s a bit like live TV. When you’re in it, you’re asking why am I doing this?,” he said. “Then I was looking around it yesterday and looking at the team, and I was like, ‘We had had the greatest musicians in the world on that stage. We had Tom Cruise, the greatest movie star, and we also had the best of the best in our industry come and deliver it.’ ”
Tom Cruise’s Condition To Do The Leap, What Was It Live
- Advertisment - 
Recent Comments
on Saipan, placid island setting for Assange’s last battle, is briefly mobbed – and bemused by the fuss
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on David and Victoria Beckham so ‘Charmed’ by Tom Cruise They Have His Photos on Display at Their Home
on Iowa State starting RB Jirehl Brock among latest college football players charged in gambling probe
on Biden to tout bill’s prescription drug prices, energy provisions in pitch to Americans, aide says
on Iowa State starting RB Jirehl Brock among latest college football players charged in gambling probe
on The Rev. Al Sharpton to lead protest after Florida governor’s ban of African American studies course
on Sports World Hails ‘Superwoman’ Lindsey Vonn for Her Grand Comeback Despite Career-Changing Injury
on San Mateo County Community College District sues five companies over role in ‘pay to play’ scandal
on Saipan, placid island setting for Assange’s last battle, is briefly mobbed – and bemused by the fuss
on ‘Pokémon Scarlet’ and ‘Violet’ Fan Theories Suggest Legendary Time Travel, Alternate Dimension Plot
on Joe Manchin and Tommy Tuberville introduce bill on name, image and likeness rules for college sports
on Inside the Michael Jordan ‘Air’ movie, plus why NFL, others are buying into the sports film industry
on If you’re a frequent traveler, these wrap tops from Aday will revolutionize your on-the-go wardrobe
on How Does Jack Nicklaus Travel? Exploring the Private Jets Owned by the ‘Golden Bear’ Over the Years
on Hollywood Reporter: Tom Cruise negotiated with movie studios over AI before the actors strike began
on Ford Blue Cruise: US regulators investigate fatal crashes involving hands-free driving technology
on Dozens of boats cruise the Seine in a rehearsal for the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony on July 26
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on David and Victoria Beckham so ‘Charmed’ by Tom Cruise They Have His Photos on Display at Their Home
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Boise State vs. Air Force live stream, odds, channel, prediction, how to watch on CBS Sports Network
on Biden to tout bill’s prescription drug prices, energy provisions in pitch to Americans, aide says
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Carlos Sainz’s Soccer Fanboy Emerges as Spaniard Shares Defining Moment With This Real Madrid Legend
on Biden: ‘At this point I’m not’ planning to visit East Palestine, Ohio, after toxic train derailment
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on Ahead of big sports weekend, dispute with Disney leaves millions of cable subscribers in the dark
on A heavy wave of Russian missile attacks pounds areas across Ukraine, killing at least 4 civilians
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on Army vs. Coastal Carolina live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez Spreads Joy and Sportsmanship to the Youth of Loma de Cabrera
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on Dubai International Airport sees 41.6 million passengers in first half of year, more than in 2019
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on Dave Portnoy: Taylor Swift’s security should ‘drag Kim Kardashian to jail’ if she attends Eras Tour
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports, Serie A announce new TV rights deal; Paramount+ to air over 400 Italian soccer matches
on Cam Newton’s Violent Public Incident Draws Hilarious Reaction From 3x All-Star: “Where Do I Sign Up
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Angel Reese Launches Foundation Dedicated To Empowering Women Through Sports & Financial Literacy
on A weaker dollar, skyrocketing prices and ‘record’ visitor numbers: Good luck in Europe this summer