Tom Cruise in no rush to leave latest ‘Mission: Impossible’ set

By Amy Reast via SWNS

Tom Cruise once said he felt the need for speed - but he's in no rush to leave his latest film set.

The actor, 59, said on March 9 that he is having a great time on location in South Africa, where he is filming "Mission: Impossible 8."

He told locals the shoot was going "very well" and that none of the cast or crew want to leave the country.

Cruise's arrival draws a crowd each morning, with new clips showing him getting out of a helicopter at Kruger National Park.

Residents say he has been staying in the small northern town of Hoedspruit, near the border with Mozambique.

Cruise can be seen striding away from the helicopter while flashing a film star smile at the camera as he runs his hand through his hair.

The moment was captured by Amber Maas, 22, a part-time photographer currently doing volunteer work near to the filming location.

She said: “I asked if he was shooting in or above Kruger – he replied they’re filming all around here.

“He said South Africa is beautiful and everyone loves it here. None of them want to leave because it's a real privilege to be here.

“Someone else asked him to go and visit a restaurant in town, and he told them, ‘my day doesn’t end now, I have a couple more hours of work - but I would love that.’

"He said he'll be in Hoedspruit until they get everything they need for the movie, but they're not sure how long that will be."

Tom Cruise has played the role of Ethan Hunt for over 20 years, starting in 1996 in the the first "Mission: Impossible."