Ben Winston may soon find it hard to keep track of how many times he has sent Tom Cruise soaring into the sky. Previously, the duo worked together to get actor James Corden to go skydiving and to co-pilot a fighter jet on The Late Late Show. During the LA28 segment of the Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony on Sunday night, Winston had the adventurous Mission Impossible star jump off the Stade de France in real-time, showcasing the results of a year-and-a-half collaboration along with a pre-recorded segment featuring Cruise skydiving with the Olympic flag over Southern California.
Initially, a stunt double was planned to perform most of the stunts, but Cruise insisted on doing it himself. Winston, who acted as creative director and executive producer through Fulwell 73 Productions, remarked, “I don’t think there’s anybody like him in the world. There is no better collaborator.”
The day after the live jump in Paris, along with a star-studded beach concert featuring The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg, and Dr. Dre, Winston discussed how he and Cruise managed to keep their plans confidential for so long, what adjustments were made, and the unexpected journey of the Olympic flag from France to the U.S.
Winston likened the experience to parenting, describing the stress and challenges of live television. He recalled how everything came together for the stunt, starting with an initial meeting in January 2022, where he first pitched the idea of using the Olympic flag in the Closing Ceremony tradition.
He explained that traditional handovers often occur in the stadium, but he wanted to take a different approach. “I liked the idea of doing the bulk of it in Los Angeles but with an amazing opening in Paris,” he said, drawing inspiration from a sketch Conan O’Brien once did when transitioning from New York to Los Angeles.
Winston first pitched the idea to Cruise, emphasizing that Cruise was integral to the success of the project. “When we got Tom, I felt like the whole thing would work,” he stated, noting that it took over a year and a half to come to fruition.
Winston described how he built a strong trust with Cruise through previous projects, making it easier to present the idea. He revealed that Cruise was insistent on performing the stunts himself rather than using a stuntman.
To maintain secrecy, Winston noted that during filming, Cruise was never seen holding the Olympic flag but rather a white flag, which led to speculation in the press that they were filming for Mission Impossible.
When asked about the risks involved in putting such a high-profile actor in a dangerous situation, Winston deferred to the legal teams for guidance on liability matters.
Throughout the process, there were changes to the original plans. Reports circulated about details that were live and those that were pre-recorded, with some confusion surrounding the concert venue’s location. Although there were challenges, Winston expressed satisfaction with how the concert segment turned out.
Winston explored the possibility of decorating the iconic Hollywood sign for the event but ultimately chose not to do so in order to keep it a surprise.
He acknowledged booking Snoop Dogg early on and noted how the rapper’s popularity soared during the Olympics, stating he had become a standout figure.
As for what’s next, Winston confirmed he is transitioning to filming Ellen DeGeneres’ stand-up show before preparing for the closing of the Paralympics, even managing to catch up on some much-needed sleep in the interim.