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Tom Cruise forced to halt Mission Impossible filming and flee to UK after Coronavirus strikes Italy

TOM Cruise is fleeing to Britain from an Italian film set as coronavirus panic sweeps Europe.

The action superstar, 57, was evacuated from the new Mission: Impossible movie in Venice — deemed a high-risk area by Italian authorities.

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Tom Cruise has become the first major celebrity impacted by the Coronavirus

The Mega Agency
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Tom Cruise has become the first major celebrity impacted by the Coronavirus

A production source last night revealed that the cast and crew were “frightened” as the coronavirus death toll in Italy reached seven.

They said: “There have been ­meetings with officials but they’re clear that, as far as they are concerned, there is a serious risk in the area, especially where large numbers are gathered — and this is a huge set.

“Halting this is extremely expensive but there’s no way anybody involved would take the risk of staying put.

“The withdrawal is under way, starting with some of the big names taking private jets out as quickly as possible.

The star has been forced to lock down at the five star Gritti Palace in the city

Alamy
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The star has been forced to lock down at the five star Gritti Palace in the city

Film chiefs were forced to evacuate him from the set of the new Mission Impossible blockbuster

AFP or licensors
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Film chiefs were forced to evacuate him from the set of the new Mission Impossible blockbuster

The A-lister had arrived in Italy to begin filming the seventh instalment in the franchise last weekend in Venice before officials urgently closed down the set amid growing fears for the cast and crew’s wellbeing

Andrew Sims - The Times
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The A-lister had arrived in Italy to begin filming the seventh instalment in the franchise last weekend in Venice before officials urgently closed down the set amid growing fears for the cast and crew’s wellbeing

“Many of the team are doing the same. They don’t want to be around anymore. It’s a frightening time.”

Several surrounding areas are in lockdown, while the Venice Carnival was abandoned in a bid to stop the spread.

Tom arrived in Venice at the weekend to film the ­seventh Mission: Impossible movie, where he plays agent Ethan Hunt. Rebecca Ferguson returns as female lead Ilsa Faust.

At the weekend it emerged Venice Carnival had to be shut down as Italy faces the worst outbreak of Coronavirus outside of mainland China

Getty Images - Getty
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At the weekend it emerged Venice Carnival had to be shut down as Italy faces the worst outbreak of Coronavirus outside of mainland China
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