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MISSION IMPASSABLE
Tom Cruise uses helicopters to fly cast & crew over closed M25 in daring bid to film Mission Impossible 8
The latest film has been delayed by almost a year because of the Hollywood actors’ strikes
IT could be a scene from one of his blockbuster Mission: Impossible movies — Tom Cruise flying in cast and crew while chaos unfolds below.
The enterprising star, 61, went into crisis mode as the M25 closes for an entire weekend for the first time.
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Filming of his eighth spy flick is taking place near the five-mile stretch between junctions 10 and 11 which was shut from 9pm last night.
Drivers have been warned to expect delays of up to five hours on surrounding roads.
But Tom, 61, is desperate to keep shooting Mission: Impossible 8 at Surrey’s Longcross Studios after being dogged by delays.
The helipad at Battersea, South West London, is among those readied for affected cast and crew.
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A source said last night: “The M25 closure is a headache for most people but not for Tom. He is so keen to keep Mission: Impossible 8 in production that he’s got helicopters on standby in London to fly his crew over to Longcross.
“It sounds excessive but delaying work on the film is a bigger problem and Tom is such a professional — he’d move heaven and Earth to keep the show on the road.
“Staff on the movie or stars who are needed for filming have been told if they can’t get to Longcross because of the M25 closures they’ll be flown in by chopper.
“It’s a feat that is just like a scene out of one of Tom’s films.”
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The qualified pilot, inset, who plays field agent Ethan Hunt and performs his own stunts, was filming last week in Derbyshire along with co-stars Simon Pegg and Hayley Atwell.
The latest film was due to hit cinemas this summer but has been delayed by almost a year because of the Hollywood actors’ strikes.
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Travel hell is predicted as the M25 closes for a whole weekend for the first time since London’s orbital motorway opened in 1986.
A bridge is being demolished and a gantry installed, the first of five major planned works.
The affected section between J10 and J11 will not open again until 6am on Monday.
National Highways chief Jonathan Wade warned: “Avoid the area totally if you can.
“Either avoid travelling completely and find something to do at home, decorate the bathroom or play in the garden.
“If you must go, travel by train, walk, use your bicycle.
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“If you can, avoid driving anywhere around those diversionary routes.”
More closures are expected between May and December.
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