Insights Shared by Mission: Impossible Stars on Shooting in Abu Dhabi
The director and cast members of the Mission: Impossible series have disclosed intriguing details regarding the filming process within the midst of the Abu Dhabi airport terminal ongoing construction. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic and the intricate web of COVID-19 restrictions, the creative minds behind the franchise remained undeterred, choosing to forge ahead with production in the Emirate while meticulously adhering to essential health and safety protocols.
Critical sequences were captured against the stunning backdrop of the Liwa Desert and the evolving edifice of Abu Dhabi Airport Midfield Terminal. During the filming in 2021, the terminal, touted as the world most advanced international gateway, was still a work in progress. This presented the film crew with an extraordinary mission: transforming the unfinished terminal into a bustling, fully operational hub, an endeavor they masterfully accomplished.
Their success was evident on screen, where the grandeur of the terminal, replete with its expansive chandeliers, elegantly arched ceiling beams, and intricate lattice walls, was unveiled to audiences worldwide. The collaborative effort involved a host of supporting actors, approximately 150 individuals, supplementing the core crew.
This venture marked a return to the United Arab Emirates for the franchise. Notably, the inaugural film to be shot in the UAE was Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, released in 2011. During the production of that film, Tom Cruise famously scaled the summit of the world tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, an audacious feat performed without a safety net. He left an indelible mark by etching his wife Katie Holmes' name on the spire.
Tom Cruise subsequently revisited Abu Dhabi for another memorable scene in 2018 Mission Impossible: Fallout, executing a daring Halo jump above the sweeping dunes.
The eagerly anticipated premiere of 'Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One' graced the capital of the UAE in June 2023. A constellation of luminaries, including Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Pom Klementieff, and Christopher McQuarrie, illuminated the red carpet.
This cinematic installment, 'Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,' made its debut in UAE cinemas on July 9, a triumphant entry preceding its subsequent release across the United States and the global stage on July 12.