Shea Whigham, a versatile character actor known for his roles in various films and TV series, recently shared some intriguing details about his experience filming the upcoming “Mission: Impossible 8.” Whigham, who played a significant role in “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning,” revealed that he had a special request for a particular scene in the new movie.
Whigham, who has appeared in projects like “Fast & Furious,” “Silver Linings Playbook,” and “American Hustle,” has also made his mark on television with roles in “Fargo” and “Perry Mason.” In “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning,” he portrayed Jasper Briggs, a government agent tasked with capturing Tom Cruise’s character, Ethan Hunt. As the production of “Mission: Impossible 8” progressed, Whigham had a specific scene in mind that he wanted to bring to life.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Whigham recounted his conversation with the film’s writer and director, Christopher McQuarrie. He said, “I told Christopher McQuarrie on ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning,’ ‘I don’t need a bigger trailer, more money, or better catering. I just want one scene between Tom and me, written like ‘The Usual Suspects,’ where we can really dive into it.’ And McQuarrie delivered.”
Whigham went on to describe the scene he had envisioned and how it came to fruition. “We did this scene between Tom and myself, and then Tom said, ‘We’re going to go out to dinner.’ So we went out to dinner when I was done, and then Tom said, ‘Do you realize that we come out one year from today? And it’s going to be a sprint to finish the thing.'”
At the time of the interview, Whigham had wrapped up his part in the film just ten days prior, while Cruise continued filming. Whigham expressed his amazement at Cruise’s dedication and work ethic. “I was like, ‘What!?’ Because we’re gone. The rest of the cast is all scattered, and he went, ‘Yeah, it’s going to be a sprint. I go all summer.’ I can’t even explain how he does the stuff that he does. What he’s doing now, people are going to be floored. He wants to make this one like an adventure film, and he and McQuarrie have an idea of what they want to do with it. So it’s going to be amazing.”
The anticipation for “Mission: Impossible 8” is building, especially with Whigham’s promise of a standout scene between his character and Cruise’s Ethan Hunt. The film, which has been shooting in various locations around the world, is expected to feature some major stunts and action sequences. While the previous installment, “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning,” received positive reviews, it didn’t perform as well at the box office as expected. The upcoming film, originally titled “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning (Part 2),” has reportedly dropped that title, with a new one yet to be revealed.
The story of the new film will continue to follow Ethan Hunt as he battles against the malevolent AI known as The Entity. Filming has taken place in diverse locations, including the Arctic, the Adriatic Sea, South Africa, and the UK. The Arctic scenes are likely connected to the Sevastopol submarine introduced in the previous film, while the Adriatic Sea scenes were shot on an aircraft carrier. In South Africa, Cruise was seen performing a daring stunt, clinging to the top of an upside-down biplane.
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, which affected the box office performance of “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning,” the upcoming sequel is shaping up to be another thrilling adventure for Ethan Hunt and his team. With Whigham’s special scene and Cruise’s relentless dedication, fans can expect an action-packed and unforgettable experience in “Mission: Impossible 8.”
