Brad Bird never recorded a commentary track for “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” but he did sit down for this extended interview. Learn how close Vanessa Redgrave came to being in the movie, why “Ghost Protocol” has a full title sequence, and the reason why the climax wasn’t grislier. Accept it.

This episode was originally released in March 2019.

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For the anniversary of “Jack Reacher,” we chatted with writer/director Christopher McQuarrie. We go deep on the movie, including how “Jack Reacher” and “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” are inexorably linked, why Tom Cruise was a perfect Reacher, and how they constructed the movie’s wordless opening.

This episode was originally released in December 2022.

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If you’ve ever wondered what it was like to pull together the script for the first “Mission: Impossible,” let writer David Koepp walk you through it. Koepp shares screenplay credit with Robert Towne and talks us through the characters’ names, does a killer Brian De Palma impression, discusses Luther’s survival, and gets into the criticism that the movie was too confusing. This episode has it all! This episode was originally released in October 2020.

You can own “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” on digital and 4K HD, Blu-ray and DVD now.

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It’s true – we spoke to director Brian De Palma, the filmmaker behind the first “Mission: Impossible” and probably a few of your other favorite movies too. We were celebrating the release of De Palma’s first book with Susan Lehman, “Are Snakes Necessary?” but discuss the making of the first movie, along with his notes for the opening crawl of “Star Wars,” replacing Alan Silvestri with Danny Elfman, and editor Paul Hirsch’s wedding. It’s an epic extravaganza!

This episode was originally released in June 2021.

You can own “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” on digital and 4K HD, Blu-ray and DVD now.

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“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” supervising sound editor James H. Mather is responsible for all of those incredible sounds in the movie – and we were very lucky to get to talk to him. On this episode we go inside two of the biggest stunts in the movie – the motorcycle jump and the train sequence. Plus so much more. Turn the volume up.

You can own “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” on digital and 4K HD, Blu-ray and DVD now.

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We are joined by James H. Mather, supervising sound editor for “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,” to talk about all the fabulous sounds that he and his team packed into the movie. This week we discuss how close our dogs got to being in the movie, the overall design of the sounds and finding the “voice” for the Entity.

You can own “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” on digital and 4K HD, Blu-ray and DVD now.

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Producer Paula Wagner, who worked on the first three “Mission: Impossible” movies alongside Tom Cruise, joins us for more stories from the franchise. And this week we discuss the sequels – how “M:I-II” came to be, the choice to go with Oliver Stone and eventually John Woo, and the subsequent development of the third movie, which was worked on by everyone from David Fincher to Joe Carnahan. We go deep this week!

You can own “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” on digital and 4K HD, Blu-ray and DVD now.

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In this episode we are joined by Paula Wagner, a producer of the first three “Mission: Impossible” movies. Wagner tells us about forming a company with Tom Cruise, initial attempts at the movie, why they hired Brian De Palma and how they achieved the Langley sequence. Wagner’s role in the franchise cannot be overstated. You do not want to miss this.

You can own “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” on digital and 4K HD, Blu-ray and DVD now.

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We are joined again by the legendary John Woo, director of “Mission: Impossible II.” In this episode, Woo talks about characterization through action, the truth behind the infamous “Woo cut” of the movie and why Woo wanted to direct “Top Gun: Maverick.” Plus, we get great “Face/Off” and “Hard Boiled” stories too.

You can own “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” on digital and 4K HD, Blu-ray and DVD now.

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We could not be more thrilled to be joined by John Woo, the director of “Mission: Impossible II” (and the current “Silent Night”). Learn what his creative process was like for the sequel, how Woo and Tom Cruise worked together and, yes, we discuss Cruise’s glorious long hair (and where the idea for it came from).

You can own “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” on digital and 4K HD, Blu-ray and DVD now.

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