Inside Henry Cavill’s Jealousy: Why Tom Cruise Left Him Craving More Action

From Superman to a CIA agent, Henry Cavill’s career took a thrilling turn when he joined Tom Cruise for Mission: Impossible – Fallout. However, Cavill’s path to landing his role as August Walker in the blockbuster action film wasn’t as simple as it might seem. In fact, the actor humorously claimed he had to “physically fight” Cruise to secure the part—a quip that highlights both the intense competition and the camaraderie between the two stars.

A Unique First Meeting

Cavill and Cruise first crossed paths years before Mission: Impossible – Fallout when they both worked on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015). Originally, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. was conceived as a project for Cruise to star in, but as it happened, Cruise eventually moved on to Mission: Impossible while Cavill was cast in the co-lead role alongside Armie Hammer.

Reflecting on their first meeting, Cavill shared with Collider Extra, “So, I went to his house, and I thought, ‘Great, I’m gonna be in Tom Cruise’s house.’” The two sat down for a pleasant conversation, did a bit of reading, and Cavill left thinking that the audition was over. Little did he know, Cruise would later step away from The Man From U.N.C.L.E., with Cavill stepping into the lead role, and Cruise moving on to Mission: Impossible.

Despite this change, Cavill was not expecting to see Cruise again until a chance encounter at a hotel, where the two stars found themselves staying at the same place. To Cavill’s surprise, Cruise not only recognized him but also recalled their conversation from over a year prior.

“[Tom Cruise] started reeling off and firing points about our discussion that we had at his house a year plus ago which I didn’t even remember. And I was thinking, ‘How the hell?’” Cavill said. This moment was a revelation for Cavill, teaching him a valuable lesson about Cruise’s attentiveness.

A Lesson in Listening

Cavill was struck by how genuinely Cruise listens and remembers details. “Immediately, you realize that he listens. Genuinely listens. Genuinely cares. And it’s not just a party trick. That’s the first time I thought, ‘Hm, that’s an impressive man,’” Cavill shared, praising Cruise for his attention to detail and sincere approach to his interactions.

Landing the Role of August Walker

When Cavill was eventually cast as the CIA agent in Mission: Impossible – Fallout, he quipped that it wasn’t an easy process. In an interview with 7 News Miami, he jokingly remarked, “We fought. We physically fought. It’s part of the thing; you have to wrestle to the death, and they stopped us just before we killed each other, and they say, ‘OK, cool, yeah, you have the part.’” While obviously exaggerated, Cavill’s playful remark highlights the competitive nature of the audition process for such a high-stakes role.

For Cavill, joining the Mission: Impossible franchise was a dream come true. He revealed that Mission: Impossible had been a part of his life since he was 14 years old. “Something as iconic as Mission: Impossible, it’s tough for it to not be part of your life,” he said. “When it came to the opportunity, which I was given to be a part of this, it was something that I leaped at.”

Jealousy and Fond Memories

Though Cavill had a memorable experience filming Mission: Impossible – Fallout, he expressed some jealousy when watching the footage of Cruise performing stunts in the latest Mission: Impossible film. “I was extremely jealous,” Cavill admitted during an interview with Empire. “I want to be there, I want to be parachuting off a motorbike into a canyon. Why can’t I be there?”

Despite this, Cavill made it clear that he thoroughly enjoyed his time on set. “Everyone on that production crew, and that creative team, are extraordinary. It was such a wonderful experience,” he said. “As I always say, the Mission: Impossible movie for me was the most enjoyable hard job I’ve ever done. Because it was extremely hard work, but I loved every second of it.”

Conclusion

Though he and Tom Cruise have never shared a physical altercation, Cavill’s comments underscore the deep respect he has for Cruise, both as a professional and as a person. From their first meeting to Cavill’s role in Mission: Impossible – Fallout, the two stars share a unique bond, and Cavill’s journey into the franchise is one full of memorable moments, valuable lessons, and hard-earned success. As Cavill continues to carve out his place in Hollywood, it’s clear that his partnership with Cruise has had a lasting impact on his career, both personally and professionally.