Tom Cruise is back for the latest instalment of the Mission Impossible series with Rogue Nation – a typically fast and furious adventure which has the IMF going up against another eponymously difficult enemy. This time it is ‘The Syndicate’; the anti-IMF agency under the hand of Solomon Lane, played by British actor Sean Harris.

From Brian De Palma to John Woo, with JJ Abrams and Brad Bird along for the ride the 1966 TV show has proved one of the most enduring action franchises, grossing millions of dollars and keeping up the quality all the way.

Along with Tom Cruise several others of the series’ regulars reprise their role. Ethan Hunt is joined by Benji (Simon Pegg), special agent Brandt (Jeremy Renner) as Ving Rhames as the hacker Luther. Wonder if he’s got his 686 prototypes, with the artificial intelligence Risc chip? Gotta keep that IMF tech up to date…

Christopher McQuarrie takes over from Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol director Brad Bird, and has been talking up the challenges of directing the film, and on reuniting with his Jack Reacher star.

“I wanted this film to bring together a Dream Team of Mission Impossible and give all the members of the IMF a major role.” McQuarrie confirmed “I wanted to reach back into the franchise to bring back the best of them all to create a kind of super group of players.”

Part of the anticipation for the latest film in the series has to do with the spectacular stunts, usually involving flinging Cruise around the place. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol had Cruise & Co. atop the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa and Rogue Nation looks to go one further.

As has been heavily promoted in the trailers Rogue Nation has Cruise hanging on to the side of a plane as it takes off. Here’s a taste of what to expect when the film opens…

Cruise said, “When I’m on a plane I am always thinking what it would be like to be out on the wing. I couldn’t sleep the night before. I knew that once we took off, if something went wrong, no one could do anything.”

For those concerned about the safety of the world’s most recognisable actor – you’ll be pleased to know that was done for real…

Take a look below at how it was done.

Cruise continued, “We started taxiing and I remember we were at the end of the runway and I’m hanging on saying to Chris (McQuarrie), ‘let’s go, let’s go, let’s go.’ Suddenly, the throttle goes and we are down the runway. The force of it! But then I was thinking, ‘Now do I say my line?’”

And that’s just the beginning. In Rogue Nation, we’ll see Cruise leap from the Vienna Opera House, zip through Morocco in a high-speed motorcycle chase, and plunge the depths of an underwater server.

Don't look down. Well, actually do. Then jump.
Don’t look down. Well, actually do. Then jump.

Series newcomer Rebecca Ferguson also had to get used to the stunt work, “I have claustrophobia and vertigo, but somehow, they got me to throw myself off high buildings and strap myself underwater. I just had to do it, so I did”,  she said.

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation is sure to please fans of the franchise, which ups the ante in terms of action and stunts and is out in Cineworld Cinemas this Friday, 31 July 2015.

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Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation is released in cinemas nationwide 31 July 2015