16 March 2022

Paris, France

    
The film MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT is the sixth installment of the film series that started in 1996. The films are based on the television series of the same name from the 1960s and 1970s, including the iconic musical theme by Lalo Schifrin. This film was released in 2018, part 7 and part 8 have been announced for 2023 and 2024.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout, 0:49:14
The Impossible Missions Force (IMF), a team of secret agents led by Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), is tasked with recovering stolen plutonium. The first attempt fails and the plutonium falls into the hands of a terror group known as The Apostles. Erika Sloane (Angela Bassett), director of the CIA, decides to add one of her own agents to the team, August Walker (Henry Cavill). The trail leads to arms dealer Alanna Mitsopolis (Vanessa Kirby).

She goes by the name The White Widow and wants to exchange the plutonium for Solomon Lane (Sean Harris), former leader of The Apostles who is imprisoned in Paris.

Shooting in the French capital began on 8 April 2017 and would last 36 days, followed by filming in Great Britain, Norway, United States, United Arab Emirates and New Zealand (see Milford Sound, New Zealand).

Notre-Dame, Paris, 28 February 2022
Since 2004 has Paris its own agency, Paris Film Region, specialized in assisting national and international film productions. Almost every day a movie is being filmed somewhere in the city. This film required the agency's help as it involved shooting in crowded locations, including some spectacular scenes. The website MovieMaps has made an extensive overview of almost all Paris locations, six of them where visited by us.
 
At sunrise, Sloane and Walker meet on an empty Esplanade du Trocadéro, undoubtedly chosen for its beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower. The square is surrounded by the Palais de Chaillot, including eight gilded bronze statues, that was built in 1937 on the occasion of the World Exhibition. Unfortunately the square did not look as good during our visit. Due to construction work there was a fence, there were pushy street vendors and the statues looked neglected. The Eiffel Tower is also being renovated. With the Olympic Games coming up in 2024, the structure will be completely painted in an ocher yellow 'gold' color.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout, 0:47:02
Esplanade du Trocadéro, Paris, 2 March 2022
Mission: Impossible - Fallout, 0:48:52
Palais de Chaillot, Paris, 2 March 2022
Mission: Impossible - Fallout, 0:49:09
View from Esplanade du Trocadéro, Paris, 2 March 2022

Hunt and Walker drive a truck into the convoy in which Lane is being transported and then flee. They drive into the Rue de Nevers, which is so narrow that the truck gets stuck. Because it takes the police time to climb over the truck, Hunt and Walker have time to drive away on two ready motorcycles. Walker gets away in time, but Hunt's motor does not start immediately after which a chase begins. The Rue des Nevers is short, in the film the image has been adjusted to make it look like a long alley.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout, 0:55:55
Rue de Nevers, Paris, 3 March 2022
Mission: Impossible - Fallout, 0:56:21
Rue de Nevers, Paris, 3 March 2022
Mission: Impossible - Fallout, 0:56:24
Rue de Nevers, Paris, 3 March 2022

The pursuit goes via the Pont Saint-Louis, the Rue Jean du Bellay and the Pont Louis-Philippe to the Rue des Pyramides. This street is named after the Battle of the Pyramids that took place in 1798 during the French invasion of Egypt led by Napoleon near the pyramids of Giza.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout, 0:57:51
Rue des Pyramides, Paris, 3 March 2022

Ethan Hunt enters the Avenue de l'Opéra via an underground parking garage. Via the Rue Louis le Grand he suddenly drives in another part of the city on the Avenue d'Iéna towards the Arc de Triomphe. The triumphal arch was commissioned by Napoleon, but he did not live to see the inauguration in 1836. Pedestrians can reach the monument through one of two underpasses. Visitors can climb to the top, the panoramic terrace gives a beautiful view of the city. More information on Arc de Triomphe.
Traffic on the Place Charles de Gaulle was shut down for an hour and a half for the shooting. Because Hunt is driving against the direction of traffic, all cars were driven by stunt performers.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout, 0:58:43
Avenue d'Iéna, Paris, 1 March 2022
Mission: Impossible - Fallout, 0:58:48
Avenue d'Iéna, Paris, 1 March 2022
Mission: Impossible - Fallout, 0:59:00
Arc de Triomphe, Paris, 1 March 2022

Hunt manages to stay out of the hands of the police. The meeting with The White Widow takes place on the Seine at the bottom of the Quai Saint Michel with the Petit-Pont and Notre-Dame in the background. The early Gothic cathedral, built between 1163 and 1345, was struck by fire on 15 April 2019. Restoration work is still ongoing.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout, 1:10:38
Quai Saint Michel, Paris, 28 February 2022

After this meeting, Hunt walks down the Rue de Richelieu near the Place André Malraux. The columns are part of the Salle Richelieu, the theatre of the Comédie-Française whose first performance here was in 1799. On the left is a memorial plaque for playwright and actor Molière.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout, 1:12:39
Rue de Richelieu, Paris, 3 March 2022

Screenshots © Paramount Pictures/Skydance Media