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Tom Cruise shuts down Mission Impossible set to take early break after Covid meltdown
TOM Cruise is shutting down production on Mission: Impossible 7 to take an earlier than planned Christmas break – following controversy over his now infamous on-set meltdown.
The superstar – who is reportedly dating co-star Hayley Atwell – has lost his temper with crew on several occasions over a failure to stick to strict Covid guidelines – with five staffers later quitting.
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And now sources say he is preparing to wrap up filming for the year this Friday, before heading to Miami via private jet to spend the festive period with his son, Connor.
An insider said: “It has been exhausting keeping the production on track for so long, and it’s not getting any easier – Christmas can’t come soon enough.
“Tom has decided he’s ready for a break and is now going to wind up filming for 2020 on Friday, and fly to Miami over the weekend on his private jet to spend Christmas with his son.
“It’s the end of a really tough year, and a bit of time out seems like a good idea for everyone as tensions have been mounting for a while.”
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Earlier this week The Sun told how the actor let rip after two crew breached Covid rules by standing too close together.
Another eruption followed on Tuesday night as news of his rant emerged.
A source said: “The first outburst was big but things haven’t calmed since. Tension has been building for months and this was the final straw.
"Since it became public there has been more anger and several staff have walked.”
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Delays have blighted the franchise’s seventh instalment.
Cruise, 58, who plays Ethan Hunt and is a producer, has pumped a fortune into Covid measures including hiring a cruise ship so staff can isolate.
In October, he held crisis talks with director Christopher McQuarrie days after 12 people on set in Italy were said to have tested positive.
Tom Cruise's Covid rant
We want the gold standard. They’re back there in Hollywood making movies right now because of us! Because they believe in us and what we’re doing!
I’m on the phone with every f***ing studio at night, insurance companies, producers, and they’re looking at us and using us to make their movies. We are creating thousands of jobs you motherf***ers.
I don’t ever want to see it again, ever! And if you don’t do it you’re fired, if I see you do it again you’re f***ing gone. And if anyone in this crew does it - that’s it, and you too and you too. And you, don’t you ever f***ing do it again.
That’s it! No apologies. You can tell it to the people that are losing their fing homes because our industry is shut down. It’s not going to put food on their table or pay for their college education.
That’s what I sleep with every night. The future of this f***ing industry! So I’m sorry I am beyond your apologies. I have told you and now I want it and if you don’t do it you’re out. We are not shutting this f***ing movie down! Is it understood?
If I see it again you’re f***ing gone — and you are — so you’re going to cost him his job, if I see it on the set you’re gone and you’re gone.
That’s it. Am I clear?
Do you understand what I want? Do you understand the responsibility that you have? Because I will deal with your reason. And if you can’t be reasonable and I can’t deal with your logic, you’re fired. That’s it. That is it.
I trust you guys to be here. That’s it. That’s it guys. Have a little think about it. . .[inaudible].
That’s what I think of Universal and Paramount. Warner Brothers. Movies are going because of us. If we shut down it’s going to cost people f***ing jobs, their home, their family. That’s what’s happening.
All the way down the line. And I care about you guys, but if you’re not going to help me you’re gone. OK? Do you see that stick? How many metres is that?
When people are standing around a f***ing computer and hanging out around here, what are you doing? And if they don’t comply then send their names to Matt Spooner. That’s it.
Since returning to the UK two weeks ago, Cruise has been pictured wearing a mask on set.
In his first rant, he warned the 50-strong crew they’d be “f***ing gone” if they ignored guidelines.
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He also told staff at Warner Bros. Studios, Herts: “We are creating thousands of jobs you motherf******.”
A source said: “Tom has taken it upon himself to try to enforce precautions with a view to keeping the film running.”
But Spencer MacDonald, of entertainment union Bectu, said: “After a very difficult year for freelancers working in the industry the last thing crews deserve is a multi-millionaire Hollywood star screaming abuse and threatening their jobs.”
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Tom Cruise and Hayley Atwell film Mission Impossible 7 in Rome
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