The voice of Tom Cruise’s French dubber (doubleur), Jean-Philippe Puymartin, can be heard in some railway stations this weekend to mark the upcoming release of the latest Mission Impossible film.
People travelling through the six main Paris stations, as well as in Nice and Cannes, may hear the special message on May 9, 10, 11 and 21. Some people also report hearing it as early as last weekend (May 4).
Listen out for the iconic Mission Impossible theme tune, followed by this announcement: "Ici Ethan Hunt. Gardez vos bagages sous surveillance. Tout objet abandonné pourrait nuire au bon déroulement de la mission… Aucune mission n'est impossible."
(This is Ethan Hunt [the name of the film's protagonist played by Tom Cruise]. Keep your luggage under surveillance. Any abandoned items could interfere with the mission… No mission is impossible.)
Jean-Philippe Puymartin has been working in the doublage business for over 20 years as an artistic director and the French ‘voice’ for Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks.
He has met both of the Hollywood actors for whom he voices, although his encounters with Mr Cruise were fleeting: “We bumped into each other very quickly, in different places and at big occasions. I didn't really have time to talk to him because we just said, ‘hello’, to each other.
Jean-Philippe PuymartinFrancesca Montovani
“One was the first Mission Impossible, where he came down in a helicopter. And the second time was at the Cinémathèque in Paris. He was passing by, he didn't linger, and that was that. It was always nice but it was a bit quick,” said Mr Puymartin.
The real Tom Cruise will be on the red carpet to present the film at the Cannes Film Festival (Out of Competition) on May 14, along with director Christopher McQuarrie.
Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning will be released in French cinemas on May 21.
