'He gave me the shot': J.J. Abrams reveals how Tom Cruise bolstered his directorial debut!

When we think of the megastar Tom Cruise, we envision the indefatigable runner, the popcorn enthusiast, and the undeterred champion of cinema. But for J.J. Abrams, Cruise represented both an exhilarating opportunity and a potential source of stress during the filming of "Mission: Impossible III".

"First Movie I Directed": J.J. Abrams on the Tom Cruise Effect

As revealed in a behind-the-scenes video, director J.J. Abrams was catapulted into the director's chair courtesy of Cruise's faith in him. "'Mission: Impossible 3' was the first movie that I directed, and it was because Tom gave me the shot," Abrams disclosed, acknowledging the apprehensions he had initially. The concept of working with the star-producer, Cruise, was enough to give the first-time director some jitters.

"Pulling Each Other Up This Mountain": A Testament to Cruise's Leadership

Contrary to the warnings, Cruise proved to be the perfect collaborator, making Abrams' journey a breeze rather than a perilous adventure. "It could not have been less of a problem," Abrams admires, adding, "Tom was as aware of the process of making the movie, of what it needed, as anyone I could've imagined."

In Cruise, Abrams found a diligent producer and a co-trooper, rather than an imposing movie star. "Every day I felt that he and I were in the trenches together... He was an incredibly focused, dedicated producer who also happened to be starring in the movie," he expressed.

Subsequent to the smashing success of "Mission: Impossible III", the franchise soared and Abrams' directorial career took off. Meanwhile, we imagine Tom Cruise doing what he does best - running tirelessly, etching an unerasable mark in the world of cinema.

(Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)