MOVIE NEWS – Mark Connolly was run over by a motorcycle while filming Mission: Impossible 2. After eight years of legal battles, he finally won compensation on the day he died. The Tom Cruise-led franchise is known for pushing the limits with its stunts – and in the second film, it led to tragedy.

Despite the hefty $400 million budget, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One looks set to be profitable. That’s welcome news for Tom Cruise, who once again proved why he’s seen as “the ultimate movie star,” putting his own safety on the line to bring the film’s most thrilling action scenes to life. He and his co-stars all made it through unscathed, but 25 years ago, stuntman Mark Joseph Connolly wasn’t so fortunate during the making of Mission: Impossible II.

From a Dream Role to a Nightmare

Mark Joseph Connolly’s name was cited by publications such as The Daily Telegraph and Sensacine. What was meant to be the defining moment of his career ended up being its end when a motorcycle, flying through the air, struck him directly in a pivotal scene of John Woo’s 1999 blockbuster.

The plan for the scene was for Connolly to shoot blanks at a hovering helicopter and then turn to aim at a motorcyclist jumping over him. Tragically, he didn’t get the proper cue to move, and the bike landed squarely on him. The accident left him with a broken collarbone and forearm, chronic pain, and a partially disabled right arm, forcing him to leave his profession for good.

Connolly filed suit against Billy Burton, the second unit director of the Paramount film, and after eight years of litigation, he was awarded over a million dollars in damages. Sadly, he died on the same day the verdict was handed down. “We got the decision at 10:40 in the morning and he died at 2:00 that afternoon,” his lawyer said. “He was too sick to react, but… he was relieved,” he added.

This story serves as a reminder of the real dangers behind making an action blockbuster. Released 25 years ago, Mission: Impossible 2 is currently streaming on SkyShowtime and HBO Max. And Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which may be Ethan Hunt’s final outing, has just hit theaters.

Source: 3djuegos