
Light The Fuse - The Official Mission: Impossible Podcast
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, starts now! Whether you're a longtime fan of the series or a newcomer looking to join the mission, Light the Fuse is your ultimate companion to the “Mission: Impossible” movie franchise. Through exclusive interviews with cast and crew, Superfans Charles Hood (writer/director) and Drew Taylor (film journalist) take you inside the world of Ethan Hunt for an incredible look at the iconic characters, heart-stopping missions, jaw-dropping stunts, and behind-the-scenes secrets that have made this series a global phenomenon. Buy or rent on digital now.https://paramnt.us/MissionImpossible
Latest episodes

Jan 30, 2024 • 1h 3min
Revisiting David Koepp
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 23, 2024 • 55min
Revisiting Brian De Palma and Susan Lehman
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 16, 2024 • 35min
Mixing It Up with James H. Mather (Part Two)
“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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 9, 2024 • 40min
Behind the Sounds with James H. Mather (Part One)
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 2, 2024 • 39min
Sustaining a Series with Paula Wagner (Part Two)
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 26, 2023 • 40min
Building a Franchise with Producer Paula Wagner (Part One)
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 19, 2023 • 51min
Releasing the Woo Cut with John Woo (Part Two)
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 12, 2023 • 46min
Directing “Mission: Impossible II” with John Woo (Part One)
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 5, 2023 • 40min
The Mission That Never Was with David Marconi (Part Two)
Rarely are unmade versions of “Mission: Impossible” movies discussed, but that’s exactly what we’re doing with David Marconi, who wrote a version of “Mission: Impossible II” for Oliver Stone. His version involved a malevolent A.I. (sound familiar?) and this week we discuss technology, where his involvement in the sequel ended, and what it was like working with Jackie Chan (on “The Foreigner”). Remember to delete your cookies beforehand.You can own “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” on digital and 4K HD, Blu-ray and DVD now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 28, 2023 • 40min
Alternate Histories with David Marconi (Part One)
We are joined by writer David Marconi, who penned early drafts of a version of “Mission: Impossible II” being made by director Oliver Stone. That’s right, we’re traveling into the multiverse baby! Learn how Marconi got attached, what his version of the sequel was all about, and what it was like working with Tom Cruise while he shot “Eyes Wide Shut.” Also: find out what elements from his draft made it into other “M:I” movies.You can own “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” on digital and 4K HD, Blu-ray and DVD now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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