John Goodman’s Hip Fracture on Tom Cruise Set Leads to Emergency Surgery
Oh, fantastic. Another Hollywood mishap to dissect. John Goodman is finally opening up about the nasty fall that left him laid up during filming on Tom Cruise’s latest flick. The 73-year-old veteran actor disclosed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that a routine scene at Pinewood Studios in March turned into a nightmare when his legs gave out and he crashed hard onto his hip.
Goodman explains that he had just nailed a breakthrough performance moment in Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s untitled project, stepping into position barefoot on a soundstage when he passed Tom Cruise and felt his legs suddenly collapse. He went down like a board and immediately knew something was very wrong. Production medics rushed him to a nearby hospital after he could not get to his feet. An X-ray later revealed a fractured hip that required immediate surgery the very next morning.
The actor admitted the hardest part was the forced downtime. “I spent a month pacing around my house,” Goodman told The Hollywood Reporter, rolling his eyes at how quickly cabin fever set in. He feared he might be written out of the movie altogether, but sources at TMZ confirm that the director and producers rearranged the shooting schedule rather than recast the role. Goodman’s character will live to see the final cut.
While Goodman recovered, the shoot didn’t stop. Heavy hitters Jesse Plemons, Michael Stuhlbarg, Sandra Hüller, and Riz Ahmed all filled in on other scenes at the sprawling Pinewood lot. Tom Cruise was said to be “very supportive,” according to TMZ, personally checking in on Goodman and even sending over a box of comfort snacks between takes.
By late April the on-set doctors cleared Goodman to do light movement, and by May he was back in full swing. His rehabilitation program focused on gentle stretching and water therapy to restore mobility after the hip repair. Cast insiders tell TMZ that they were relieved to see Goodman’s trademark energy return, describing his comeback as “remarkably swift for someone his age.”
This incident underscores the physical risks even seasoned actors face on action-heavy sets. Goodman’s close call also highlights Iñárritu’s intense directorial style, which pushes performers to their limits for authentic results. Fans of both Goodman and Cruise have taken to social media to express relief over the positive prognosis, sharing posts with hashtags like #GetWellGoodman and #TomCruiseFamily.
Production for the untitled Iñárritu movie is already back on track, with Goodman reportedly shooting his remaining scenes by early June. No delays have been announced, and insiders say the film’s ambitious schedule remains intact. As audiences eagerly await what promises to be another visually stunning and emotionally charged collaboration between Cruise and the Oscar-winning director, all eyes are now on Goodman’s triumphant return to the big screen.
And that, dear reader, is why we can’t have nice things.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, The Hollywood Reporter
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
