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The Resurrection of Tom Cruise
Sources in Cruise’s camp say that contrary to earlier predictions, the 46-year-old actor has faced facts. “He’s had some hard conversations with a lot of people,” says one who previously thought Cruise would never hear the truth. “He’s doing everything he can to be the best guy to be in business with.”
And it may be paying off: In December Cruise managed a $21 million opening weekend for Valkyrie and the movie went on to gross almost $200 million worldwide. (That feat is all the more impressive because the film wasn’t just a Nazi period piece with a downer ending, but because it was kind of confusing and a little boring.) Of course, those numbers constituted proof that Cruise is still a star.
The projects that Cruise is supposedly considering now include some thrillers: The Matarese Circle, based on a Robert Ludlum novel, might team Cruise with Denzel Washington in a film about two contract killers who find themselves under fire from a mysterious group, with David Cronenberg directing. The Tourist would co-star Charlize Theron as an Interpol agent who uses an American tourist to flush out an elusive criminal who's also her former lover. But the one that he’s said to want the most, the one that would further endear him to women who loved him as Jerry Maguire, is an action comedy.
Wichita is a Fox project about an undercover agent who meets up with a woman (potentially played by Cameron Diaz) who’s had a lot of man troubles. And that’s where the reinvention of Tom Cruise becomes a little muddled.
Like many stars—even those who haven’t gone off the rails—Cruise would not appear to be in a position to command his old rich deal: about $20 million or 20 percent of the box-office gross, whichever is more. These days, studios tend to insist on getting their money back before the star scoops up a big share of the profit. If any studio is likely to try to make that stick, it’s Fox. The studio is apparently willing to promise Cruise $20 million but it wants him to hold off on his gross participation until its costs are recouped. So far, Cruise’s representatives have responded that the star won’t do that. And that’s left some at Fox fuming that Cruise still hasn’t gotten the memo.
But a source in Cruise’s camp says he has indeed gotten the memo and read it carefully. The star’s representatives may have taken a tough stance, he says, but that’s because Fox is known for playing hardball. It’s just a negotiation, he says, and if Cruise decides that the script is working, the terms of the deal will not stand in the way.
Whatever project comes next, there’s no doubt that the large contingent of people who loathe Scientology will continue to berate Cruise for being part of a group that they consider to be a dark cult. But it might not matter. Cruise is one of the hardest working men in show business and it looks as though, just as L. Ron Hubbard promised, he might have another life coming to him.
Kim Masters is the host of The Business, public radio's weekly show about the business of show business. She is also the author of The Keys to the Kingdom: The Rise of Michael Eisner and the Fall of Everybody Else.
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Kim Masters covers the entertainment business for The Daily Beast. She is also the host of The Business, public radio's weekly program about the business of show business. She is also the author of The Keys to the Kingdom: The Rise of Michael Eisner and the Fall of Everybody Else.
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Kim Masters covers the entertainment business for The Daily Beast. She is also the host of The Business, public radio's weekly program about the business of show business. She is also the author of The Keys to the Kingdom: The Rise of Michael Eisner and the Fall of Everybody Else.
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Kim Masters covers the entertainment business for The Daily Beast. She is also the host of The Business, public radio's weekly program about the business of show business. She is also the author of The Keys to the Kingdom: The Rise of Michael Eisner and the Fall of Everybody Else.
hammer
Yea Valkyrie was a monumental winner and I'm sure the studios were thrilled by its success. The born again Scientologist gives everyone the creeps with his fake smile and his canned responses. But after all this is Hollywood where press relations is the only thing that is important. iu wonder what favors Cruise and his team did to get this puff piece planted into the DB?
Banjo1
Good actor, bad person. That pretty much describes all the people in front of the camera in Hollywood -- except for the bad actors.
Ritarita
It's hard
To watch
Someone so
Uncomfortable
In their own skin.
He could be a
Great actor
I can't tell.
FNYGY1
Good actor? Tom Cruise? I think not. Pretty good movie star but not much of an actor. One can certainly see the wheels turning. The eye patch was too much for me - it simply SCREAMED "movie!"
FingBruges
Haha hammer.. so cynical.
Although most times I don't care much about celebrity news, I DO care about things that happen with Tom Cruise because, besides being a phenomenal actor, he is a scientologist.
I would really like to see a well-researched and thoughtful piece about scientology on DB. Scientology is a serious problem in many parts of the U.S. (i.e. Florida, California...) that gets swept under the rug. It's not important like economy and healthcare, etc., but it shouldn't be treated as a non-issue.
Everybody, including scientologists needs to understand:
Scientology is a business, like alternative medicine, and NOT a religion.
Keyser
scientology is a business, absolutely, but let's not trick ourselves into thinking that mainstream religions aren't.
Just because you've been in business for a millennium or more doesn't make you something more. It just means that you've been able to adapt quite well (and that IRS won't take quite as hard a look at you when filing for 501(c)(3) and "church" status).
ColorBox
Only half true.
All religions may be business oriented...I mean, you can't run a church unless you take money in, right?
But the other big difference between Scientology and mainstream religions is the fact that you can LEAVE the faith if you want to.
I was raised Catholic but I am Catholic no more.
Dollars to donuts that Tom Cruise's kids will not have that kind of freedom.
You are not allowed to think for yourself AT ALL in Scientology. Which is not unlike other religions...I mean, mostly that's what religion does: it takes away a need to think for yourself...but, like I said..you are free to leave mainstream religions, and there are more freedoms as well.
Scientology is not just a business...it is a cult too. It's way more dangerous than mainstream religions.
This comment has been removed by The Daily Beast's editors.
sophieozz
This reads like a silly PR puff piece. Typical.
angelas02
No, Tom Cruise has not been rehabilitated. He made a movie that left most film-goers indifferent. It only made 20 million in the US which does not single a hit by a star of his (past) stature.
His Scientology devotion is still creepy and his marriage a mystery and the fact that anyone who works with them have to sign insanely complicated "confidentially" agreements shows that they have something to hide. I don't think he's talented or interested or worth a $12 movie ticket. If he stopped making movies, Scientology would certainly lose its budget and the movie world would be richer.
Fentro
go to youtube and search for "Cruise Scientology Rant" and you will see very bizarre behavior. Tom Cruise is a person with a destiny of success since he started acting, and in that regard, blessed- however, it has inflated his ego to a point where I can't imagine the guy really caring about others all that much, except in a controlling way. Scientology has aggravated this quality.
Let's face it, in just about every movie, he plays Tom Cruise (and is always running alot). I generally enjoy his films, but he has become over-exposed. It would be good if the Hollywack powers-that-be gave others a chance (and give Tom walking papers - he's rich enough and has accomplished enough. Let him discover the real world).
As far as his image - who cares, except those that exploit it for monetary gain.
People should be free to believe in whatever nonsense they want, be it L. Ron Hubbard, Santa Claus, Aliens, Elvis or Jesus, as long as their actions are harmless.
peterbyrne
Cruise's career is only being "resurrected" by a media that wants to write about him in order to service some flack. Puhleaze--can we have some NEWS, not more garbage.
FingBruges
I've seen the clip, and yes, it's bizarre. And about people being free to belive what they want.. that's ok, until you start hurting other people; that's what scientologists do. They hurt others in active and passive ways, such as witholding medicine from their son who subsequently kills himself due to his mental ilness(es). (See: Travolta family). That's serious.
p.s. - Ritarita: give it up. You aren't adding anything to any discussion. You're a gimmick.
Ritarita
I like
Economy.
Sue me.
SantaFromTheNorth
I defend Mr. Cruise's right to express his beliefs, as long as it does no harm. One would argue that Scientology has left a trail of the dead, injured, and swindled, much like some that follow the Koran or certain interpretations of the Bible.
Valkyrie's $20 mil. was due to curiosity. It had poor word of mouth. Tropic Thunder was not a Tom Cruise film, he was a supporting player, much like when he played the washed up drunk in Magnolia. He could be gifted, but he chooses to phone it in. I have no desire to pay to see any of output if continues to phone it in and give aid to hucksters.
BTW: the only harm that anybody got believing in Santa was a bunch of gifts on Dec24th or 25th.
CyberJoe
Now if he would just get it over with and come out of the closet.
saaddaas
hate to say it but this articled does look like a PR plant.
decodent
His antics have, unfortunately, made it hard to watch him on film. I think Cruise is a good - if not great - actor. His roles in Magnolia and Collateral were amazing.
Believing in an actor's role means losing yourself in whatever character they play.
Unfortunately, if the first thing that comes to mind when you see their face is of coach jumping, playing pop psychologist, or some other idiotic display, it's hard to do that.
I admire the actors that can take on any role and otherwise stay below the radar screen of idiocy. I think di Caprio, Norton, and Downey do this well.
Cruise would do well to learn from them.
edouglas
I don't think its a coincidence that the media decided that Tom Criuse was 'crazy' only when he bashed the drug companies. Companies that spend a lot of money on ads. The same is going on now with Jenny McCarthy when she suggests that all of these shots that kids are getting now might be connected with the rise in autism, but I digress. Also, I believe it's the media that keeps bringing up his belief in Scientology, not him (In the infamous Today show interview, Matt Lauer pressed the issue, not Tom).
I'm not the biggest fan, but let's face facts: Tom Cruise is a bonafide movie star and has been so for a very long time. Let's face another fact: Whenever there's some smear piece written about him, the guy puts those to task, sues and if I'm not mistaken, he usually wins.
If you like his movies, see them. If you don't, nothing wrong with that either. But leave the guy alone when it comes to his personal life and his choices.
Ritarita
edoug-
Your theory
Does not explain
His own frenetic
Behavior.
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