Mission Impossible : 2 (2000) dir. John Woo

Twenty days of Mission: Impossible 2

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2 (2000) dir. John Woo

They wanted Ian McKellen as Hunt’s boss, but scheduling conflicts prevented his casting. Producer Paula Wagner told Woo that Anthony Hopkins wanted the part, and “I was shocked. I was so nervous. I couldn’t sleep for a couple nights.”

Twenty days of Mission: Impossible 2

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2 (2000) dir. John Woo

John Woo wanted the film to be sexy without the need to show any sex. It’s more elegant this way.

Twenty days of Mission: Impossible 2

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2 (2000) dir. John Woo

Cinematography by Jeffrey L. Kimball

John Woo was concerned about competing with Brian De Palma’s style, but Cruise was very adamant that he wanted Woo’s style for the second film. “He loved Face/Off, he loved all of my Hong Kong films.” Cruise said his goal was to have each film — each “episode” — be a different style from a different director. “That made me feel relaxed.”

Twenty days of Mission: Impossible 2

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2 (2000) dir. John Woo

Cruise shared with Woo his love of Bruce Lee, so the director used that as inspiration for designing the end fight between Hunt and Ambrose.