LAS VEGAS - If the infamous "hobbling" scene in Rob Reiner's "Misery" made you hide behind the sofa, then prepare to wince hard at "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" - as Tom Cruise shatters his ankle for real.

The injury has threatened or ended the careers of sports legends like Diego Maradona, Yao Ming and Derek Jeter, but 55-year-old Cruise calmly finished the take and was back on set within six weeks.

"I've broken bones before in my life, but it was hard," said the "Top Gun" icon, perhaps the most recognizable movie star in the world over the last four decades.

"It was very difficult, because they were concerned I wasn't going to be able to run for nine months at least and I'm in the middle. I've got a release date and responsibilities - I didn't want to stop filming."

Cruise made the comments at the annual CinemaCon industry gathering in Las Vegas, where he was promoting the sixth film in the lucrative spy franchise ahead of its July 27 release.

"Mission: Impossible - Fallout" was forced to halt production in London last year after Cruise slammed awkwardly into a concrete wall as he leapt between buildings while attached to cables.

"I knew instantly my ankle was broken and I really didn't want to do it again so just got up and carried on with the take," he said after the incident. - AFP