Latest 'Mission Impossible' film plans to blow up 'part of' 111-year-old bridge in Poland

The news drew criticism from fans and locals who say CGI should be used to preserve history

Tom Cruise in a scene from 'Mission: Impossible - Fallout', the sixth chapter in the cinematic franchise. Courtesy Paramount Pictures

The latest Mission: Impossible film is under fire following reports that the Hollywood production will result in the destruction of a century-old structure.

Filmmakers behind the seventh iteration of the popular action franchise are pushing to use a Polish bridge in an explosion scene, according to local media.

The Pilchowicki Bridge, in the southern Polish village of Pilchowice, will be partially blown up according to the country's Deputy Culture Minister, Pawel Lewandowski.

"Only a small part of it will be destroyed during filming," the politician told The First News, following local criticism that the film would destroy a monument.

"I would not be fixated on the fact that the Pilchowicki Bridge is a monument," Lewandowski said. "It stands in ruins and has no value. Not all old things are monuments.

"The law clearly states that a monument is only that which has social, artistic or scientific value. In art and culture, that value only emerges when there is a relation between the cultural object and people. So if an object is unused, unavailable, it has no such value. Therefore it is not a monument."

The steel bridge was built in 1909 to connect the towns of Jelenia Gora and Wlen. After falling into disrepair, it was closed for public use in 2016.

Maciej Madry, director of heritage conservation at the Foundation for the Protection of Silesian Industrial Heritage, told Syfy Wire that the foundation submitted an application to designate the bridge as a monument "to provide it with permanent legal protection".

Filmmakers behind the Tom Cruise movie have not responded to reports, but fans have left comments on director Christopher McQuarrie's Instagram account, urging him to reconsider.

"You have enough amazing editors and money and whatever to not do it, but rebuild it or use green screen or anything," one Instagram user posted on the filmmaker's most recent upload. "I support realistic filmmaking but not this far. It hurts people and is unnecessary and just not worth it for a stunt."

"How sky high does your ego have to be to think that your film is more important than a historical monument that can’t be replaced?" added another critic on Twitter. "Just use CGI to replicate, like literally every other film does when they need an explosive set piece at a historical location."

Filming for Mission: Impossible 7 began in February in Italy, but was put on hold owing to the coronavirus pandemic. Production will resume in the UK in September, with Cruise resuming his role as Ethan Hunt.

The film is set to be released in November next year.