Tom Cruise let rip over an apparent breach of Covid-19 safety protocols on the London set of the new Mission: Impossible film, telling crew members they would be fired if they don't obey the rules, Britain's Sun newspaper reported on Tuesday.
In expletive-filled remarks captured on audio tape obtained by The Sun, the star and producer of the action film yelled at the crew about lapses of social distancing and other rules that allow movies to be made during the coronavirus pandemic.
A source close to the production said the tape was authentic. Cruise's representative declined to comment.
"Do you understand the responsibility that you have? Because I will deal with your reason. And if you can’t be reasonable and I can’t deal with your logic, you’re fired," Cruise told the crew on the set, according to the tape.
The Sun did not say when the incident took place, but the filmmakers arrived in London in early December.
The seventh Mission: Impossible was one of the first films to shut down production because of the coronavirus when it abandoned filming in Venice, Italy, in February.
Production resumed in September, with filming in Italy, Norway and London. Cruise in July personally appealed to Norway's prime minister to shoot parts of the film in the country under modified quarantine rules.
Scroll through the gallery to see more photos from 'Mission: Impossible 7' in Rome, Italy:
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Tom Cruise greets fans during the shooting of 'Mission: Impossible 7' at Piazza Venezia in Rome, Italy on November 29, 2020. EPA -
Tom Cruise greets fans during the shooting of 'Mission: Impossible 7' at Piazza Venezia in Rome, Italy on November 29, 2020. EPA -
Tom Cruise, left, with British actress Hayley Atwell, right, in a car during the shooting of 'Mission: Impossible 7' at Piazza Venezia in Rome, Italy on November 29, 2020. EPA -
Tom Cruise greets fans during the shooting of 'Mission: Impossible 7' at Piazza Venezia in Rome, Italy on November 29, 2020. EPA -
Tom Cruise greets fans during the shooting of 'Mission: Impossible 7' at Piazza Venezia in Rome, Italy on November 29, 2020. EPA -
Tom Cruise wears a face mask during the shooting of 'Mission: Impossible 7' at Piazza Venezia in Rome, Italy on November 29, 2020. EPA -
Tom Cruise seen on set wearing a face mask during the shooting of 'Mission: Impossible 7' at Piazza Venezia in Rome, Italy on November 29, 2020. EPA -
Tom Cruise performs a stunt during the shooting of 'Mission: Impossible 7' at Piazza Venezia in Rome, Italy on November 29, 2020. EPA -
The cast and crew are at Piazza Venezia in Rome, Italy to shoot 'Mission: Impossible 7'. EPA -
Tom Cruise sports a face mask during the shooting of 'Mission: Impossible 7' at Piazza Venezia in Rome, Italy on November 29, 2020. EPA -
Tom Cruise uses a walkie-talkie during the shooting of 'Mission: Impossible 7' at Piazza Venezia in Rome, Italy on November 29, 2020. EPA -
Tom Cruise is seen on the set of "Mission: Impossible 7' while filming in Rome, Italy on October 13, 2020. Reuters
The Paramount Pictures film is scheduled to be released in November 2021.
Cruise told the crew Hollywood was relying on films such as Mission: Impossible to keep the beleaguered industry going.
"We want the gold standard. They’re back there in Hollywood making movies right now because of us! Because they believe in us and what we’re doing," he said, according to the audio tape.
Mission: Impossible is one of the biggest franchises in Hollywood, with 2018's Mission: Impossible – Fallout taking more than $791 million at the worldwide box office.
