The newly released trailer for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning has left Londoners fuming after eagle-eyed fans spotted a major geographical blunder involving one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
The eighth instalment in the blockbuster franchise sees Tom Cruise reprise his role as super-spy Ethan Hunt, who once again embarks on a globe-trotting mission to save the world. The high-octane trailer promises edge-of-your-seat action, jaw-dropping stunts, and spectacular cinematography—including several scenes set in London.
But amid all the thrills, one scene has sparked ridicule and frustration among viewers familiar with the capital.
Underground Confusion at Trafalgar Square
The trailer includes a dramatic aerial shot of Trafalgar Square teeming with protesters and surrounded by armed military forces. The sweeping visual appears realistic—until a glaring error jumps out.
In the scene, a fictional entrance to a London Underground station appears in the centre of Trafalgar Square, exactly where the public toilets are in real life. Londoners were quick to point out that the nearest Tube station, Charing Cross, is actually located just outside the square—not in its centre.
“I burst out laughing,” wrote one user on X (formerly Twitter). “Why is there a Tube station entrance in the middle of Trafalgar Square? Clearly no one did a proper location recce.”
Another added:
“Charing Cross is a whole walk away. This is the Hollywood version of London again.”
Not the First Time London Has Been a Backdrop
This isn’t Ethan Hunt’s first mission in the capital. In Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Tom Cruise famously sprinted across the rooftops of St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tate Modern in one of the franchise’s most memorable foot chases.
London plays an even more prominent role in The Final Reckoning, with scenes of Cruise running past the Houses of Parliament and an apparent explosion near a London landmark teased in the trailer.
A Blockbuster in the Making
Despite the error, anticipation remains sky-high for the film, which hits cinemas worldwide on May 23. The movie’s dazzling stunts, gripping plot, and Cruise’s trademark dedication to daredevil sequences are expected to deliver yet another box-office smash.
Still, the Underground gaffe has Londoners calling for better attention to detail when their city is used as a backdrop.
“If you’re going to film in London,” one fan wrote, “at least get the landmarks right.”
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Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning opens in cinemas May 23, 2025. Will you be watching—despite the Tube station error?
