Ahead of “Top Gun: Maverick” release Tom Cruise thanked fans for supporting the film in theaters, just as he intended with its long-anticipated debut earlier this year.
In true Cruise fashion, Tom went above and beyond with his message of gratitude and slipped on a parachute and goggles for a solo freefall dive over the ocean.
“Maverick” became Paramount Pictures’ biggest hit, grossing a worldwide total of $1.488 billion. The Golden Globe-nominated film also marks Cruise’s personal best when it crossed the $800 million marker in June 2022.
“Hey everyone, Here we are over sunny South Africa,” Cruise said as he sat along the edge of the helicopter while wearing a parachute and gloves. “We’re filming ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning’ parts one and two.”
He added, “I didn’t want the year to end without thanking you all for coming out to the theaters and thank you for supporting “Top Gun: Maverick.”
As he caught his breath between words, Cruise introduced Christopher McQuarrie, the writer, and director of “Dead Reckoning.”
“Listen, we gotta roll; we gotta get this shot,” McQuarrie told Cruise.
“Oh ya, we’re filming. We have to get this shot. Are you coming?” Cruise asked McQuarrie.
“Not on your life. Good luck,” the director responded, to which Cruise said, “We’ll see you down there.”
Tom casually jumped out of the plane without hesitating and began freefalling through the sky.
“As always, thank you for allowing us to entertain you. It truly is the honor of a lifetime,” he said while launching toward the ground without a care. “Very lucky.
“I’m running out of altitude, so I better get back to work. We have to get this shot. Have a very safe and happy holiday. We’ll see you at the movies.”