Locals fear Mission: Impossible film-makers plan to BLOW UP historic Polish bridge

Concerned locals and heritage groups have come together over fears that Hollywood producers are planning to blow up a historic Polish bridge for a stunt in the new Mission: Impossible 7 film. 

The 495ft suspension bridge near the town of Jelenia Gora was built in 1909 over Lake Pilchowickie to connect commuters with the nearby town of Wlen. 

It was closed down in 2016 after years of gradual deterioration but has now been thrown into the spotlight of controversy, with locals saying the bridge is a part of the region’s heritage.   

Reports in Polish media have claimed that the bridge is set to be blown up by the Hollywood film crew, but producers have yet to confirm or deny these rumours.  

Historic: The bridge was built in 1909 over Lake Pilchowickie in Lower Silesia, which was then part of Germany 

Concerns were initially raised when Mission Impossible director Christopher McQuarrie posted a teaser of the location on his Instagram account.

One concerned follower replied: ‘Historic post-German bridge in Poland. Apparently it’s not profitable to renovate it and it will be cheaper to blow it up.’

She added: ‘Please don’t blow up our bridge, Mr Hunt…’ in reference to the character of Ethan Hunt played by Tom Cruise.

Locals then spotted filmmakers inspecting the bridge along with the Polish Army.

Subsequent reports by Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza suggested that the Lake Pilchowickie bridge could be blown up during production.  

To quell the growing concern, Poland’s State Railways authority PKP posted on Twitter: ‘There are over 3,300 railway bridges [in Poland]. We do not blow up the bridges, we improve their condition – the historical ones are preserved!’

The film’s producer Robert Golba has confirmed that he is in negotiations with Poland’s Ministry of Culture, but made no comment on what the bridge will be used for. 

Asked specifically by WP whether the bridge would be blown up, Golba did not specifically deny it but said the bridge would be ‘put back into use’ after filming. 

Golba added that producers were co-operating with government authorities and ‘will not commit any crime’.  

He told local media: ‘It is very likely that the bridge will be able to feature in the film and after shooting the currently unused bridge and railway line will return to use, revitalised.’ 

He added: ‘Great Hollywood productions do not leave damage behind. 

‘The first question the Americans had was ‘what can we do for the local community. The film studio cares about good PR. 

Tom Cruise will reprise his role as secret agent Ethan Hunt in the next Mission: Impossible film (he is seen here playing the same role in the fifth installment in 2015) 

‘When we shot Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies in Wroclaw we renovated several tenement houses, installed garbage bins and created two small parks.’ 

Poland’s deputy minister of culture and national heritage, Jaroslaw Sellin, sought to allay fears saying: “Hollywood knows how to achieve such effects in a different way than destroying the original building structure.” 

The International Committee for the Conservation of Industrial Heritage, a body that collaborates with UNESCO, has now written to the country’s prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, asking him to intervene.

MailOnline has contacted the Hollywood production company, Paramount Pictures, for comment.  

Production on the Mission: Impossible film was suspended in February because of the coronavirus pandemic. 

The crew had been scheduled to shoot for three weeks in Venice, but northern Italy was in the midst of Europe’s first major virus outbreak at the time. 

The seventh installment of the lucrative action movie franchise is expected to be released in July 2021, with an eighth due for release in 2022. 

Cruise will reprise his role as secret agent Ethan Hunt in both movies with Christopher McQuarrie returning as director.