Ethan Hawke is currently promoting the adventure film The Smugglers, in which he stars. During a recent appearance on the show Quotidien, Hawke was asked about Tom Cruise's reputation for performing his own stunts in movies. Hawke responded with humor, saying, "Thank you for asking this question. We, the other actors, look fragile next to him!" He likened Cruise's physical abilities to those of a sports legend like Michael Jordan, noting that such skills were rare in the acting world. Hawke joked that Cruise's daring actions, such as jumping off a cliff on a motorcycle, had "humiliated all the members of the acting guild." While he was clearly joking, he also acknowledged Cruise's unique status as a global star willing to take significant risks during film productions. He pointed out that with modern insurance and safety standards, no other actor could claim such a privileged treatment nowadays. Hawke also mentioned that he took on a physically demanding role in The Smugglers, now playing in theaters. The film is set in Oregon in 1933 and follows Samuel Murphy, a man who is separated from his daughter after his wife's death and sent to a labor camp. When a corrupt guard offers him freedom in exchange for a dangerous gold smuggling mission, Murphy takes the opportunity to return home. The film follows his perilous journey through hostile nature, where betrayals multiply, raising the question of how far Murphy will go to see his daughter again. Meanwhile, Tom Cruise has moved away from the high-octane stunts and fights of Mission: Impossible to film a new project directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, the filmmaker behind The Revenant. The film, titled Digger, sees Cruise playing the world's most powerful man who embarks on a frenzied mission to become humanity's savior before the catastrophe he himself triggered destroys the planet. For this role, Cruise has undergone significant physical transformation to fit the character's needs. Hawke's comments highlight the contrast between the evolving expectations of actors in the film industry and the unique legacy of performers like Cruise, who have long been known for their physical commitment to roles. As The Smugglers continues to draw attention, it also sets the stage for Cruise's new project, which promises to be another high-stakes endeavor in his storied career.