Impossible footage for action film with 94-year-old star

Tom Cruise approved the use of Impossible mission Footage in Thelmawith director Josh Margolin explaining how he got permission. Thelma stars 94-year-old June Squibb in her very first leading role. The 93-year-old character Thelma Post seeks revenge and becomes an unexpected action heroine after being scammed out of $10,000. Margolin based the character and story on his own 104-year-old grandmother, while the film explores the issues facing older adults in a meaningful and entertaining way.

In an interview with The Hollywood ReporterMargolin was asked the action comedy’s references to the Impossible mission Franchise about clips and pictures from the films and Cruise, and whether Margolin had to get permission from the star herself. Margolin explains the process behind including these references and how this affects Thelma‘s production. Read his statement below:

That came during production. We shot two versions of those scenes, one with Tom on (TV and newspapers) and one with a sort of interchangeable green box. It went surprisingly smoothly. Nicky Weinstock, the producer of the film, was at the same agency as him and has some mutual friends there. We ended up sending him the scene in script to give him a little context and then a snippet of the read-through. We got his go-ahead and then went to Paramount, which I suspect made things a lot easier there.

The references to Tom Cruise and Mission Impossible are just a small part of what makes Thelma great

A great lead role, strong themes and an unconventional action hero round off the experience

With a critics rating of 99% and an audience rating of 79% on Rotten Tomatoes, Thelma proves that it has more to offer than just cruise and Impossible mission References. Squibb’s hilarious appearance in Thelma is enough to make the film an outstanding comedy. Margolin shared THR that Squibb was the only actress he ever wanted for the role, stressing that she reminded him of his grandmother, who was the inspiration for the story, and that Squibb had the perfect dramatic and humorous range required for the role.

In addition to the outstanding performance of Squibb Thelma was well received for the way it deals with the problems of older adultsThe action comedy genre allows Thelma to explore these themes with clever humor that is neither condescending to the characters nor the audience. The film tackles difficult topics, including mortality, without oversimplifying them and without becoming too dark, an approach Margolin perfects thanks to his real-life experiences with his grandmother.

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The cruise and Impossible mission References are not the main reason Thelma has a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes rating, but as one of the most famous action stars from one of the most famous action franchises, they serve a purpose as Thelma becomes an action hero in her own story. Margolin revealed that Squibb did what she could and more than was expected of her when it came to Thelma’s stuntsincluding the entire scooter ride itself, another reason Thelma while the film is in theaters and when it is available for streaming.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Thelma (2024)

Thelma is a 2024 comedy film written and directed by Josh Margolin. Thelma Post is scammed out of money and more when a scam caller pretends to be her grandson. Not wanting to stand by and become a victim, she heads to town to find the culprit and get back what’s hers.

director

Josh Margolin

Release date

January 18, 2024

Studio(s)

Zurich Avenue, Invention Studios, Bandwagon

Authors

Josh Margolin

Pour

June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, Malcolm McDowell

Duration

97 minutes

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