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Mission: Impossible Goes Behind the Scenes at Abu Dhabi Midfield Terminal  

An inside look into Dead Reckoning Part One explains how the film took inspiration from its surroundings to inform its action sequences, with a special focus on the KPF-designed terminal.

In the behind-the-scenes film by Mission: Impossible and Etihad Airways, Writer/Director Christopher McQuarrie shares that a goal for this installment of the series was to bring the story to more global locations. Turning the Abu Dhabi Midfield Terminal into “the biggest set we’d ever worked on,” McQuarrie notes the beauty of the location with the “epic in scale” main structure echoing the form of sand dunes. Also featuring scenes in the country’s deserts, the film juxtaposes the natural and built environments. “Really what motivates us more than the action,” Christopher shares, “is the beauty of the locations.”

While “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” will be released on July 12th, the Midfield Terminal Complex opens later this year, increasing the capacity of the airport by 50 million travelers annually. Designed in an X-shape to provide the greatest programmatic efficiencies, the terminal can host 59 aircrafts at any one time.

Watch the full film on Etihad’s YouTube channel here.