Inside Tom Cruise’s death-defying Olympic stunt: How spectacular closing ceremony finale was 18 months in the making – with the star insisting on doing ‘the whole thing’ himself

One of the most exciting moments of Paris 2024 is Tom Cruise’s death-defying stunt at the end of the Games’ closing ceremony. It has been more than 18 months in the making.

The 62-year-old Hollywood legend looked effortless as he jumped off the roof of the Stade de France, accepted the Olympic flag from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and hopped on his motorbike. It was all before he boarded a plane, parachuted out and transformed the double O’s of the Hollywood sign into the iconic Olympic rings.

But behind the fluid camera movements that followed the Mission Impossible star from one incredible location to the next were months of preparation and tension from the creators.

Cruise reportedly insisted on doing “the whole thing” himself when executive producer and creative director Ben Winston of Fulwell 73 Productions asked him to be the star of the closing ceremony.

The day before the big stunt Winston told Fashion It took more than a year to create the masterpiece and at times he feared he would never succeed.

Actor Tom Cruise performs at the closing ceremony

American actor and film producer Tom Cruise carries the IOC flag during the closing ceremony

American actor and film producer Tom Cruise riding a motorcycle

The Hollywood Sign has been modified for the LA 2028 Games

“We’ve been working on this for a year and a half and we had this idea that it would be so great if we could take the flag from the stadium in Paris and bring it to Los Angeles and put it live and create something spectacular here,” he said.

Cruise’s stunt was seamlessly followed by a live, secret concert on Venice Beach featuring major artists like Billie Eilish and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

“LA is known for its beaches, so we thought, what if we could steal that flag, bring it to LA, and do a big, big concept on the beach with all these amazing artists from LA?” Winston told Vogue.

Winston spoke of Cruise’s dedication to his work when he said the actor was in London filming Mission Impossible. He boarded an 11-hour flight to LA, shot the video for the Olympics, and then immediately got back on a plane to the film set.

Cruise, strapped into a harness, jumped off a ledge in front of thousands of fans and Olympians last night during the grand finale.

He took up his duties as organiser of Paris 2024. Tony Estanguet thanked everyone for their ‘contribution’ to the Games and American R ‘n’ B star HER sang and played the Stars And Stripes, the American national anthem, on her guitar.

Once Cruise was safely back on the ground, he was presented with the Olympic flag with five rings by gymnast Simone Biles and the mayor of Los Angeles. Cruise loaded it onto the back of a waiting motorcycle.

Dressed in his signature black leather Top Gun jacket, the action hero rode out of the arena on a standing position.

Then, California-born Red Hot Chili Peppers (above), Billie Eilish and Snoop Dogg gave a sneak peek of what’s to come at the 2028 Los Angeles Games

Cruise shared a selfie from the top of the stadium before performing the death-defying stunt

Tom Cruise jumps from the roof of the Stade de France

The crossing to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean began with live performances by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish and Snoop Dogg on the beach.

The event took place after a madcap series of performances by artists including a composer playing a piano floating in the air, a ‘golden traveller’ accompanied by dozens of dancers and many acclaimed French musicians.

After being passed between several American Olympians, the Olympic flag arrived at the famous beach where the Red Hot Chili Peppers performed their hit Can’t Stop.

The rock band then gave the stage to Eilish who performed a killer version of her new song Birds Of A Feather, dressed in an oversized T-shirt, shorts and a baseball cap.

Snoop, who appeared at several events during the Olympics, later took to the beach to perform his classic song Drop It Like It’s Hot, alongside fellow American rapper Dr Dre.