A recent photo featuring Mission: Impossible star Tom Cruise and Aussie entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins is lighting up social media — and not because of the film they were there to promote…
Behind-the-scene photo
A lot of us are counting down the days until Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning hits theaters. The film had its world premiere in Tokyo earlier this May and is set to land in U.S. theaters on May 23.
And if the leaked behind-the-scenes shots are anything to go by, fans are in for a wild ride; just check out the insane photo below that’s reportedly from the set.
Early reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, too, so it’s shaping up to be a big year for 62-year-old Tom Cruise.
But could anything possibly derail the hype train?
Well… maybe. A photo taken during a press event in London has fans buzzing, and not for the reason you’d expect. The snap shows Cruise posing next to 70-year-old Wilkins after an interview, and at first glance, it seems like your standard celebrity photo op. But fans quickly zoomed in on one unexpected detail: the noticeable height difference.
Wilkins and Cruise height
Wilkins shared the photo on Instagram with the caption:
“Always great catching up with the incredible @tomcruise.” He went on to praise the upcoming movie, calling it: “bigger, faster, higher, deeper.” Wilkins also complimented Cruise’s legendary work ethic, adding: “He keeps raising the bar… and then jumping over it.”
But followers weren’t as focused on the rave review — they were too distracted by the dramatic visual contrast between the two men. Wilkins, who’s 6’2″ (1.88m), appears to dwarf Cruise, who’s widely reported to stand around 5’6″ (1.7m).
While some fans pointed out that Wilkins was slightly closer to the camera, others didn’t hold back.
“Tom looks like he just popped out of a Kinder Surprise egg,” one person joked.
Another commented, “I know he’s not the tallest, but this photo seems off — like it’s been warped or something.”
A third added, “There’s no way Cruise likes that photo floating around.”
Pressed him on fears
Once people got past the photo drama, talk turned to Cruise’s signature — and often insane — stunt work. Wilkins asked him about the very first stunt he ever pulled off. Cruise didn’t go with the iconic sock slide from Risky Business, but instead reached even further back.
“I think it started when I was about three,” Cruise said, smiling. “I used to climb out of windows and onto the roof at night just to look at the stars. It’s just always been a part of me.”
When Wilkins pressed him on whether fear ever creeps in during those high-risk action scenes, Cruise was candid but fearless.
“It’s not that I don’t feel fear,” he explained. “I just don’t let it stop me. I don’t mind being scared — it pushes me.”
As for the movie itself? Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning has a jaw-dropping $400 million budget and as mentioned, it’s already racking up early praise from critics.
“An absolute adrenaline rush,” wrote Anthony Gagliardi. “Cruise proves once again that he’s the king of cinematic spectacle.”
Fandango’s Erik Davis called it “the wildest and most consequential Mission movie to date.”
Critic Dave Baldwin didn’t hold back either, describing it as “pulse-pounding, gasp-inducing, and wildly entertaining.”
One thing’s clear: whether it’s stunts, red carpet moments, or viral photos, Tom Cruise still knows how to steal the spotlight — even if someone else towers over him.
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