Simon Pegg has spoken candidly—and with endearing sincerity—about the Mission: Impossible franchise, his love for film music, and the sheer gravitational pull of Tom Cruise. And, of course, the iconic theme that follows him like a shadow.
Appearing with Jonathan Ross, Pegg discussed the filming of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and how the cast simply could not help themselves. “We sing it a lot,” he said. “Whenever we’re like walking from our trailers to set… and it’s always in our heads, always whenever Tom walks on set, it’s just always in your mind.”
It’s not said with irony, nor through the lens of some performative fandom. This is sincere admiration—an acknowledgment that Lalo Schifrin’s unmistakable theme has transcended the screen and embedded itself into the daily rhythm of production. It's not just a score anymore. It's a ritual.
Pegg’s affection for film music runs far deeper than playful humming on set. He recounts how Star Wars awakened his awareness of cinematic music’s emotional power. “The Empire Strikes Back particularly is, I think, my favourite film score of all time,” he said, citing its willingness to “take a real risk” and delve into darker emotional territory. “A lot of that score is really infused with pathos and tragedy, and it’s so stirring and beautiful.”
There’s a clear reverence in how Pegg speaks of John Williams—not as a fan, but almost as a student of the form. He praises Williams’ ability to weave character motifs into an emotional tapestry, calling it a “patchwork” of themes that shape not just the story, but how the story feels. “I’ve never been disappointed by John Williams,” Pegg adds, unequivocally.
He even jokes about Jaws—two notes, a career milestone. “I remember I was on the set of Ready Player One, which Steven Spielberg was directing, and joking with him that John Williams had won an Oscar for two notes.”
But there’s no cynicism in the remark. It’s admiration masked as humour—exactly the kind of observation Pegg excels at, and which likely explains why his insights into film, even off the clock, are worth listening to.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning might be billed as an action blockbuster, but Pegg reminds us of the invisible machinery that makes it soar. From Schifrin’s Morse-coded motif to Balfe’s nuanced rearrangements, it's clear that to the people making these films, the music is not incidental. It's integral.
And when Tom Cruise walks on set? The music cues itself.
