Tom Cruise breaks ankle as rooftop leap proves mission impossible

Filming delayed after Hollywood star renowned for performing his own stunts slams into wall

FILE PHOTO: Hollywood actor Tom Cruise speaks during a news conference for his movie "Edge of Tomorrow" in Tokyo, June 27, 2014.   REUTERS/Yuya Shino/File Photo
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Tom Cruise broke his ankle while performing a stunt on the set of the latest Mission: Impossible movie, likely delaying shooting for weeks.

The 55-year-old was seen in a video on celebrity news site TMZ trying to jump between the roofs of two buildings in London and landing hard against a wall.

Cruise, who performs most of his own stunts, was seen limping off the set after the accident at the weekend.

"He was always supposed to slam into the side of the building,” director Christopher McQuarrie told Empire magazine. “He knew the instant that he hit the building that his ankle was broken.”

Paramount Pictures did not specify how long shooting would be delayed while he made the actor made a full recovery.

The Hollywood trade paper Variety said it could be as long as three months while he recovers, but Paramount said the film remained on track for release in July next year.