In Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Henry Cavill delivered one of his most intense performances as August Walker, a slick and deadly CIA assassin with a twist. While Cavill has been Superman, a man of steel, it was his time flying through the Southern Alps in a helicopter that he described as the most physically grueling stunt of his career.

Yeah, you read that right—Superman, who?

In an interview with Collider, Cavill didn’t hold back on what it took to film the iconic helicopter sequence in Fallout. “Even though it’s not a single shot, it’s a sequence, and I love the sequence and I would do it again in a heartbeat,” Cavill said. “But physically, the most enduring was a Mission: Impossible helicopter sequence.” This epic action sequence wasn’t just another stunt in Cavill’s bag of tricks. It was a beast of its own, pushing him harder than any of his superhero roles.

So, what made it so tough? Imagine hanging out of a helicopter with the doors wide open, flying over the frozen, jagged peaks of the Southern Alps—in the dead of winter. The bone-chilling cold wasn’t the only obstacle; Cavill had to keep his head out of the helicopter window, with freezing winds whipping against his face, all while firing blanks from a rifle. “I’m sticking my face into the wind… Completely deaf, just waiting for the pilot to scream something inaudible,” Cavill recalled. Sounds like a scene straight out of an action flick, right? Well, that’s because it was.

The ordeal wasn’t just a one-off shot. Cavill would be in that position for up to 40 minutes at a time, enduring the brutal cold before landing just long enough to thaw his hands by a small Red Rad heater. And after a brief warm-up, it was back up in the air for another round of filming. For two weeks, Cavill battled the freezing elements, but there wasn’t an ounce of regret in him. “It was just having to suck it up… but I absolutely loved the sequence, and it was so worth it,” he shared.

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, Mission: Impossible – Fallout delivers one of the franchise’s most thrilling and heart-pounding installments. Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt once again finds himself racing against time to stop the terrorist John Lark from unleashing worldwide destruction. Alongside fan favorites like Simon Pegg and Rebecca Ferguson, Henry Cavill’s August Walker stole the show. His suave, no-nonsense portrayal of the CIA operative took the stakes to new heights.

But Walker wasn’t just a straight-shooter. As the film unravels, he’s revealed to be the true villain, making the helicopter chase through Kashmir all the more exhilarating. The sequence is pure adrenaline, with Cavill going head-to-head against Cruise’s Ethan Hunt in a showdown that leaves you gripping the edge of your seat. Every freezing second Cavill spent filming that scene was worth it, culminating in one of the most intense battles of the Mission: Impossible series.

Though Walker met a brutal end—with a hook to the face, no less—if we’ve learned anything from the spy game, it’s that no one’s ever truly out. With the franchise’s infamous use of masks and disguises, there’s always a possibility Cavill could return. After all, Mission: Impossible has been throwing curveballs for more than 25 years. Who knows what’s coming next?

Henry Cavill’s performance as August Walker was a game-changer for the series, cementing him as one of the franchise’s standout villains. His blend of cunning and combat skills pushed Cruise’s Ethan Hunt to his limits, and that helicopter scene remains a wild reminder of just how far actors are willing to go to create iconic moments.

As the Mission: Impossible saga continues, Cavill’s daring helicopter stunt stands as one of the most epic—and most grueling—moments in modern action cinema. Sometimes, it’s the toughest challenges that lead to the most unforgettable performances.