tom cruise characters

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The Best Tom Cruise Characters Of All Time

More than perhaps any other modern actor, but firmly in the tradition of the Hollywood star system, Tom Cruise’s movie star persona tends to eclipse whatever character he might be playing. We may know a Mission: Impossible movie is about IMF agent Ethan Hunt going on death-defying, globetrotting adventures, but really, it’s a movie about  Tom Cruise going on death-defying, globetrotting adventures. Particularly in the later, action-hero stages of his career, Cruise has become a niche within his own existing movie-star brand. The name “Pete Mitchell” might not ring an immediate bell, but “Tom Cruise as a fighter pilot”? Yeah, now we’re on solid ground.

Even so, Cruise has played a number of great roles during his legendary career - from real-life figures like Ron Kovics and Claus von Stauffenberg to larger-than-life creations like Interview with the Vampire ’s charmingly predator vampire Lestat or Tropic Thunde r’s bombastic Hollywood agent Les Grossman. From John Anderton in the eerily accurate sci-fi thriller Minority Report to dirtbag sexvangelist Frank T.J. Mackey in Magnolia . And then of course, there are the roles that need no introduction: Jerry Maguire. Jack Reacher.

The best Tom Cruise character is probably Tom Cruise himself… but other than that, who is the most memorable screen creation of his career?

LT Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell

Lt. Daniel Kaffee

Jerry Maguire

Lestat de Lioncourt

Jack Reacher

Les Grossman

Charlie Babbitt

Brian Flanagan

Cole Trickle

Nathan Algren

John Anderton

Lt. Col. Bill Cage

Joel Goodsen

Mitch McDeere

Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg

Ray Ferrier

Jack Harper

Steve Randle

Joseph Donnelly

Vincent Lauria

Nick Morton

Stacee Jaxx

Cadet Captain David Shawn

Jack O' The Green

Frank T.J. Mackey

Stefen "Stef" Djordjevic

David Aames

Famous Austin

Bill Harford

Senator Jasper Irving

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All about the life and career of the ageless actor Tom Cruise.

Tom Cruise's 10 Best Characters, Ranked

Tom Cruise is one of those rare actors who climbed to superstar status and never really vacated the position. Since the early ‘80s he’s consistently turned out top-notch, entertaining movies, and he has another on the way this weekend with Mission: Impossible—Rogue Nation . To mark the occasion of his fifth time playing international secret agent Ethan Hunt, we thought what better time to count down his ten best characters.

This was a tough list to make. We have some die hard Cruise fans among us ( Top Gun shaped my life more than I’m entirely comfortable admitting), and as we all have our favorites, there were some heated arguments had during construction. There are great movies where the character may not have been the most memorable, on the on other side of that coin, there are great roles in less notable movies. That said, we think this is a solid list. Let us know what you think we should have included or left off in the comments below.

10. Les Grossman, Tropic Thunder

Tom Cruise isn’t known for being a comedic actor. He can certainly be funny, but scanning his resume, you don’t find a lot of straight-up comedy. That’s what makes his turn as hard-ass studio executive Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder so memorable and hilarious. It’s also one of the few roles, especially recently, where he’s heavily made up, to the point where he’s almost unrecognizable. You can’t help but laugh as Cruise, so out of his usual wheelhouse, screams and rages and belittles his subordinates. And who knew that you always wanted to see Tom Cruise dancing around his office to a hip hop jam, but there it is. So don’t piss him off or you’ll have to get a binding resolution from the United Nations, because he is talking scorched earth, motherfucker!

9. Lestat, Interview With The Vampire

Tom Cruise covered with pasty makeup, full of intense stares and heaving sighs, and prosthetic fangs? Didn’t expect that one, did you? But that’s exactly what you got in Neil Jordan’s adaptation of Ann Rice’s Interview with the Vampire , which featured Cruise as the fan-favorite bloodsucker Lestat. The casting initially met with big question marks from fans of the book, as well as Rice herself, who criticized the choice, though she came around to praise his performance. He embraced the character’s ambiguous sexuality, his charm, his petulance, his theatricality, and the philosophical questions that plague the immortal rogue. This is a role that required Cruise to show a different side of his personality and skills as an actor, and Lestat is one that stands very much apart from anything he did before or has done since.

8. Bill Cage, Edge Of Tomorrow

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When you think of a typical Tom Cruise movie, you imagine him in the lead, as the hero, and those are certainly true to a degree in the sci-fi actioner Edge of Tomorrow . Sure, he does ultimately save the day and get the girl and all of that usual heroic stuff, but when Bill Cage starts on his journey, he’s anything but your standard Tom Cruise lead. Spineless, sniveling, and without a heroic bone in his body, his ad exec turned fast-talking military officer finds himself on the front lines of an alien invasion where he is killed off almost instantly upon stepping into battle. Cursed to relive the same day over and over again, Groundhog Day style, he gets a little further each time, until he is humanity’s last hope. His journey is to become your usual steel-jawed Cruise hero, but he plays much of the movie drastically against type. And getting to watch him kick the bucket time after time is also a total blast.

7. Frank TJ Mackey, Magnolia

When you think of Cruise, there’s usually a certain amount of ego involved. He’s the lead, he’s the hero, but in Paul Thomas Anderson ’s Magnolia he takes a supporting role as part of a large ensemble, and plays a heel to boot. And he was rewarded with an Oscar nomination for his onscreen efforts as Frank TJ Mackey, a narcissistic self-help guru that encourages men to worship sex and who lies about his past. His quiet performance, which blends into the larger tapestry of the film, encompasses the pain and trauma and reconciliation he undergoes, and the role allows him to transcend the movie star trappings he often falls into and show off things you didn’t know he had.

6. Charlie Babbitt, Rain Man

Rain Man ’s Charlie Babbitt is not quite a con man, but he’s not far off. Self-centered and up to his eyeballs in debt, he learns that he has a brother, Raymond ( Dustin Hoffman ), in a mental institution. On the road trip that ensues, they bond, count cards, get Raymond laid, and Charlie learns some important lessons. Hoffman’s performance is the obvious, showy one that people watch and praise, and as such it’s easy to skip over Tom Cruise doing some of his best work along side of that. Confused, desperate, and trying to process a ton of new information, Charlie is the true central character in Rain Man , the real emotional core, and Cruise handles it with a deft, delicate touch. He’s so good and so natural that you hardly even notice.

5. Joel Goodsen, Risky Business

Before he played Joel Goodsen in Risky Business in 1983, Tom Cruise was starting to make a name for himself as a handsome newcomer in movies like Losin’ It , Taps , and The Outsiders . It was this role, however, that really made people sit up, take notice, and say this kid is going to be a star. Playing a teen who wrecks his dad’s Porsche when his parents are out of town, and turns his house into a brothel for the night in order to pay for the repairs, Cruise is cocky and brash, but also vulnerable and scared and in way, way over his head. This is the role that really showed he could lead a movie, the one that truly helped make him a star, and from there his career trajectory went from upward to meteoric.

4. Ron Kovic, Born On The Fourth Of July

Cruise had already become a huge international star, but 1989’s adaptation of Bourn on the Fourth of July brought a different kind of recognition, in the form acclaim for his acting and award nominations, including his first Oscar nom. His transformative performance as disillusioned real-life Vietnam War veteran Ron Kovic is strong and simple and incredibly powerful. Together with director Oliver Stone , he shows the hidden, lingering consequences of war, and how the problems of that conflict, from both a personal and national perspective, were not easy fixes and were never truly resolved. Even down to small details, like flinching at the sound of firecrackers, Cruise’s performance is visceral and authentic.

3. Jerry Maguire, Jerry Maguire

Few Tom Cruise roles are beloved in the same way as the title character of Cameron Crowe ’s 1996 romantic comedy-drama J erry Maguire . So many of Cruise’s best roles feature the superstar playing against type, and though he’s been a romantic lead before, he had never been one like this. Cruise plays a slick, cynical sports agent who undergoes a massive transformation both professionally and personally. Doing some of his best work, Cruise’s performance was praised across the board and earned him another Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. How can you not love that scene of him drunk on the couch with the little kid?

2. Ethan Hunt, Mission: Impossible

For years, Tom Cruise has been adamant about doing his own stunts whenever possible, putting himself in harms way for our entertainment. Nowhere has that been more prominent than as Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible movies. He even fired an insurance company on Ghost Protocol because they wouldn’t sign off on a particular sequence he wanted to perform. Ethan is charming and suave, a reckless gambler willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done, and is full of sharp banter for his rogues gallery of compatriots. Up to and including the latest installment, Rogue Nation, more than anything, the Mission: Impossible films illustrate just how far Cruise is willing to go in order to sell a movie and prove that, even as he gets into his 50s, he’s still one hell of an action star.

1. Maverick, Top Gun

Tom Cruise was famous before Top Gun , well known as a heartthrob and leading man. His turn as renegade Navy pilot Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in Tony Scott’s 1986 action drama, however, made him a goddamn superstar, and he never looked back. His badass, live-life-on-the-edge fighter pilot is cocky and rash, oozes charm and charisma, and is impossible not to watch, whether he’s playing volleyball shirtless, riding his Kawasaki Ninja (I wanted one so bad as a kid) recklessly through traffic, piloting a supercharged F-14 Tomcat, or holding his dying best friend in his arms (I still get choked up over Goose). Top Gun is where Tom Cruise truly became Tom Cruise , the personality rather than the man, and it shaped my life more than I’m entirely proud to admit (true story, the kid who grew up next door went to the Air Force Academy largely because he fell in love with the idea of flying during our repeated viewings of Top Gun ). Top Gun is where Tom Cruise taught an entire generation how to be awesome.

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‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Cast and Character Guide (Photos)

Time to feel the need… the need for speed

“Top Gun: Maverick” is now soaring, and while you can’t miss Tom Cruise’s return to the skies, there are quite a few new young pilots joining his ranks. Other names mentioned in the original film come to life, while some characters from Maverick’s past stay off the screen in the sequel.

Another classic character that comes back in “Maverick” is Iceman (Val Kilmer), while the younger pilots bring their own energy to the film.

Here’s who plays who in “Top Gun: Maverick”:

Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise)

Tom Cruise reprises the role of Captain Pete Mitchell, who many think would have been promoted past the status of captain by now. He is more often referred to by his call sign “Maverick,” and now he test-flies cutting edge planes for the navy. Maverick tried his hand at becoming an instructor at Top Gun years ago, but he didn’t fit. That is, until Commander Iceman calls him back to teach the best of the best how to execute one heck of a mission.

Tom Cruise is, of course, one of the biggest movie stars on the planet.

Penny Benjamin (Jennifer Connelly)

Penny was the daughter of the Admiral the Pete fooled around with in the original “Top Gun.” She now owns The Hard Deck bar near the Top Gun naval base in San Diego. She remembers Pete as well as he remembers her, although she married someone else and now has a daughter. Her husband remarried, so she is single.

Past films for Connelly include “Requiem for a Dream” (2000), “A Beautiful Mind” (2001), “Hulk” (2003), “House of Sand and Fog” (2003) and “The Day the Earth Stood Still” (2008).

Admiral Tom “Iceman” Kazansky

Iceman, or Ice for even shorter, was in Maverick’s class at Top Gun. He graduated top of the class, making Maverick second, but the two bonded in the end despite butting heads. Iceman is now a very high-ranking admiral who sometimes pulls strings to keep Maverick around. They get a very touching scene in the film.

Kilmer starred as one of the first versions of Batman in “Batman Forever” (1995). He has also portrayed Mark Twain in “Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn” (2014) and “Cinema Twain” (2019).

Bernie “Hondo” Coleman (Bashir Salahuddin)

Bernie is working on the program that Maverick is currently test-piloting. When Maverick gets the call to return to Top Gun, Bernie goes with him and becomes his assistant coach out in the field. W01 stands for Warrant Officer Rank 1, and Warrant Officers have great technical skill and leadership. The Navy relies on them to repair equipment and for communications. Salahuddin served as a writer on “Sherman’s Showcase,” “South Side” and “Chocolate News.” He has recently appeared in “The Dropout” (2022).

Admiral Chester “Hammer” Cain (Ed Harris)

Adm. Cain visits Maverick when he pushes a plane to Mach 10 in order to save the program he is currently test-piloting for. As Maverick launches into the sky, the force of the jet washes over Cain, who is still at the entry gate. Cain came in person to officially cancel the program, but Maverick — as usual — got in the way. Harris is known for “Apollo 13” (1995), “The Truman Show” (1998), “Pollock” (2000) and “Appaloosa” (2008).

Admiral Beau “Cyclone” Simpson (Jon Hamm)

Cyclone has no tolerance for Maverick’s shenanigans. He is under orders from Iceman to give Maverick the teaching job, but he has his doubts. Hamm makes Cyclone a very strict no-nonsense admiral. Jon Hamm is best known for his role as Don Draper in the show “Mad Men” (2007-2015). He has also appeared in “The Town” (2010), Disney’s “Million Dollar Arm” (2014) and “Tag” (2018).

Admiral Solomon “Warlock” Bates (Charles Parnell)

Warlock is a little bit more forgiving of Maverick’s past transgressions. He even secretly cheers him on later in the film. Warlock sits in on Maverick’s lessons along with Cyclone. Parnell has appeared in “Transformers: Age of Extinction” (2014), “The Last Ship” (2014-2018), “The Warriors” (2005) and”Bones” (2008).

Lieutenant Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (Miles Teller)

When Warlock and Cyclone show Maverick the roster of students he will be training, he immediately singles out Bradley Bradshaw, whose call sign is Rooster. Rooster is Goose’s son, and Maverick not only has the emotional baggage from flying with Goose (played by Anthony Edwards) back in “Top Gun” and losing him in an accident, but now facing his son. Rooster’s mom asked Maverick to pull his papers from the naval academy, which set him back four years in his career. Teller has starred in “The Spectacular Now” (2013) “Whiplash” (2014), “Fantastic Four” (2015), the “Divergent” films and more recently, “The Offer” series as Alfred S. Ruddy.

Lieutenant Jake “Hangman” Seresin (Glenn Powell)

Hangman is a skilled pilot, but he is also cocky. He walks a fine line between charming and full-of-himself or just plain a-hole. Hangman likes to get under people’s skin, and once he senses the beef between Rooster and Maverick, it doesn’t take him long to find out why the two have tension. Glenn Powell originally auditioned for the role of Rooster, but later took on Hangman after a phone call from Tom Cruise. Powell has previously starred in “Set It Up” (2018) as Charlie and “Scream Queens” (2015-2016) as Chad Radwell. He appeared in “Hidden Figures” (2016) as astronaut John Glenn and “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” (2018) as Mark Reynolds.

Lieutenant Natasha “Phoenix” Trace (Monica Barbaro)

Phoenix is the standout woman pilot of the group, called back with one other woman pilot. Barbaro has previously held roles in TV shows like “The Good Cop,” “Splitting Up Together” and “Chicago Justice.”

Lieutenant Robert “Bob” Floyd (Lewis Pullman)

Bob becomes Phoenix’s trusty second seat. His call sign is Bob, and he gets made fun of for that, but he gets the job done, just like Goose did for Maverick back in the day. Pullman has previously appeared in “Bad Times at the El Royale” (2018), “Them That Follow” (2019) and TV series like “Catch-22” and “Outer Range.”

Lieutenant Reuben “Payback” Fitch (Jay Ellis)

Payback proves his worth as a pilot with partner Fanboy. Their bond is a special one, and they flourish under Maverick’s teaching. He eventually chooses them as a key component to the mission for which he was called to train all the pilots. Ellis has appeared in “Insecure” on HBO, “Mrs. America” (2020) and “Masters of Sex” (2014).

Lieutenant Mickey “Fanboy“ Garcia (Danny Rodriguez)

Fanboy is Payback’s flight partner. He sits in the backseat and operates more of the controls on the plane and looks around for threats. Rodriguez has appeared in “Assassination  Nation” (2018), Marvel’s “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” (2021) and Hulu’s “No Exit” (2022).

Lieutenant Javy “Coyote” Machado (Greg Tarzan)

Coyote runs in the same circles as Hangman, Phoenix and Rooster. He competes for a part in the mission, but is not chosen. Greg Tarzan previously appeared on “Grey’s Anatomy” as Dr. Jordan Wright, and he will also accompany Cruise in “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning.”

Lieutenant Brigham “Harvard” Lennox (Jake Picking)

Harvard, portrayed by Jake Picking, doesn’t get much screen time or lines, but his face pops up during initial training and the push-ups competition that stems from it. Picking has held previous roles in “Patriots Day” (2016), “Hollywood” (2020) and “The First Lady” (2022).

Lieutenant Billy “Fritz” Avalone (Manny Jacinto)

Manny Jacinto’s Fritz also doesn’t get any lines or that much screentime, but his famous face is recognizable in the squadron of talent recruited for Maverick to teach. Jacinto is known for his role of Jason in “The Good Place” (2016-2020) and also playing Yao in ‘Nine Perfect Strangers” (2021).

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(Photo by DreamWorks/courtesy Everett Collection. Collateral.)

All Tom Cruise Movies, Ranked By Tomatometer

Collateral celebrates its 20th anniversary!

From his teen idol days in the early ’80s to his status as a marquee-lighting leading man today, Tom Cruise has consistently done it all for decades — he’s completed impossible missions, learned about Wapner time in Rain Man , driven the highway to the danger zone in Top Gun , and done wonders for Bob Seger’s royalty statements in Risky Business , to offer just a few examples. Mr. Cruise is one of the few honest-to-goodness film stars left in the Hollywood firmament, so whether you’re a hardcore fan or just interested in a refresher course on his filmography, we’re here to take a fond look back at a truly impressive career and rank all Tom Cruise movies.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018) 97%

Top Gun: Maverick (2022) 96%

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) 96%

Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation (2015) 94%

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011) 93%

Risky Business (1983) 92%

Edge of Tomorrow (2014) 91%

Minority Report (2002) 89%

Rain Man (1988) 88%

The Color of Money (1986) 88%

Collateral (2004) 86%

Born on the Fourth of July (1989) 84%

American Made (2017) 85%

A Few Good Men (1992) 84%

Jerry Maguire (1996) 84%

Magnolia (1999) 82%

Tropic Thunder (2008) 82%

The Firm (1993) 76%

War of the Worlds (2005) 76%

Eyes Wide Shut (1999) 76%

Mission: Impossible III (2006) 71%

The Outsiders (1983) 70%

Taps (1981) 68%

Mission: Impossible (1996) 65%

The Last Samurai (2003) 66%

Jack Reacher (2012) 64%

Interview With the Vampire (1994) 63%

All the Right Moves (1983) 61%

Valkyrie (2008) 62%

Top Gun (1986) 58%

Mission: Impossible II (2000) 56%

Oblivion (2013) 54%

Knight and Day (2010) 52%

Far and Away (1992) 50%

Vanilla Sky (2001) 43%

Rock of Ages (2012) 42%

Legend (1985) 41%

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016) 38%

Days of Thunder (1990) 38%

Lions for Lambs (2007) 27%

Losin' It (1982) 18%

The Mummy (2017) 15%

Cocktail (1988) 9%

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Actor Tom Cruise has starred in the box-office hits Risky Business , Top Gun , Jerry Maguire , and the Mission: Impossible franchise.

1962-present

Tom Cruise Now: Mission Impossible Star Performs Skydiving Stunt at Olympics Closing Ceremony

The 62-year-old then appeared in a previously filmed video clip that showed Cruise driving through the streets of Paris and boarding a plane headed to Los Angeles, symbolizing the passing of the torch from the Paris Games to the Los Angeles Olympics in summer 2028. Cruise put on skydiving gear and jumped out of the plane, soaring through Los Angeles and past the Hollywood sign, which he redesigned to feature the Olympic rings in place of the two Os at the end of Hollywood .

Cruise is famous for doing many of his own stunts in his movies, including the Mission: Impossible and Top Gun franchises. Ahead of the release of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One in July 2023, he told Entertainment Tonight that his most dangerous stunt took years of practice to perfect: “You have to be razor sharp when you do something like that.”

Quick Facts

Young tom cruise and parents, scientology, ex-wives: katie holmes, nicole kidman, and mimi rogers, who is tom cruise.

Actor Tom Cruise has been one of the most prominent movie stars in Hollywood dating back to the 1980s. After developing an interest in acting during high school, he rocketed to fame with his turns in Risky Business and Top Gun . Cruise has since become an action movie veteran, counting the Mission: Impossible franchise, Edge of Tomorrow , and Top Gun: Maverick among his many successes. The four-time Oscar nominee has also earned acclaim for his performance in Born on the Fourth of July , Jerry Maguire , and Magnolia. Off the silver screen, Cruise is one of the most high-profile members of the Church of Scientology and has been married to fellow actors Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes .

FULL NAME: Thomas Cruise Mapother IV BORN: July 3, 1962 BIRTHPLACE: Syracuse, New York SPOUSES: Mimi Rogers (1987-1990), Nicole Kidman (1990-2001), and Katie Holmes (2005-2012) CHILDREN: Isabella, Connor, and Suri ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Cancer

Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, better known as Tom Cruise, was born on July 3, 1962, in Syracuse, New York. The third of four children, Tom was the only son of Mary Lee South and Thomas Cruise Mapother III. Cruise’s mother was an amateur actor and schoolteacher, and his father was an electrical engineer. His family moved around a great deal when young Tom was a child to accommodate his father’s career.

Tom’s parents divorced when he was 11, and the children moved with their mother to Louisville, Kentucky, and then to Glen Ridge, New Jersey, after she remarried. Like his mother and three sisters, Cruise suffered from dyslexia, which made academic success difficult for him. He excelled in athletics, however, and considered pursuing a career in professional wrestling until a knee injury sidelined him during high school.

At age 14, Cruise enrolled in a Franciscan seminary with thoughts of becoming a priest, but he left after a year. When he was 16, a teacher encouraged him to participate in the school’s production of the musical Guys and Dolls . After Cruise won the lead of Nathan Detroit, he found himself surprisingly at home on the stage, and a career was born.

Early Roles in Taps and The Outsiders

Cruise set a 10-year deadline for himself in which to build an acting career. He left school and moved to New York City, where he struggled through audition after audition before landing an appearance in 1981’s Endless Love , starring Brooke Shields . Around this same time, he snagged a small role in the military school drama Taps (1981), co-starring Sean Penn . His role in Taps was upgraded after director Harold Becker saw Cruise’s potential, and his performance caught the attention of a number of critics and filmmakers .

In 1983, Cruise appeared in Francis Ford Coppola ’s The Outsiders , which also starred Emilio Estevez , Matt Dillon, and Rob Lowe —all prominent members of a group of young actors the entertainment press dubbed the “Brat Pack.” The movie wasn’t well received, but it allowed Cruise to work with an acclaimed director on a high-profile project.

Breakout Role in Risky Business

His next movie, Risky Business (1983), grossed $65 million and become one of the most profitable movies at the box office that year. It also made Cruise a highly recognizable actor—thanks in no small part to a memorable scene of the young star dancing in his underwear.

Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick

In 1986, after a two-year hiatus, the budding actor released the big-budget fantasy film Legend , which did poorly at the box office. That same year, however, Cruise’s A-list status was confirmed with the release of Top Gun , which co-starred Kelly McGillis, Anthony Edwards, and Meg Ryan . The testosterone-fueled action-romance, set against the backdrop of an elite naval flight school, became the highest-grossing movie of 1986.

Decades later, Cruise returned to his role as fighter pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in the action-packed sequel Top Gun: Maverick (2022), which picks up more than 30 years after the original. Critics heaped praise on the movie, and in addition to becoming the second highest-grossing film of the year, it earned an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.

Cruise is set to star in a third movie, Top Gun 3 , which doesn’t yet have a release date.

The Color of Money , Rain Man , and Born on the Fourth of July

Cruise followed the tremendous success of the original Top Gun with a string of both critically acclaimed and commercially successful films. First up was The Color of Money (1986) with co-star Paul Newman , then Cruise worked with Dustin Hoffman on Rain Man (1988). Cruise’s next role, as Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic in the biopic Born on the Fourth of July (1989), earned him an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe for Best Actor.

A Few Good Men , The Firm , and Interview with a Vampire

In 1992, Cruise proved once more that he could hold his own opposite a screen legend when he co-starred with Jack Nicholson in the military courtroom drama A Few Good Men . The movie grossed more than $15 million its first weekend and earned Cruise another Golden Globe nomination. He continued to demonstrate his success as a leading man with The Firm (1993) and Interview with the Vampire (1994), which co-starred Brad Pitt.

Mission: Impossible Franchise

Next, Cruise hit the big screen with another huge action hit: the $64 million blockbuster Mission: Impossible (1996). In addition to starring in the movie, Cruise also served as a producer. The movie’s popularity spawned another action franchise for Cruise.

The long-awaited smash hit Mission: Impossible 2 arrived in 2000 followed by the also popular Mission: Impossible 3 in 2006. However, Cruise was faced with a professional setback that August when Paramount Pictures ended its 14-year relationship with the actor. The company’s chairman cited Cruise’s erratic behavior and controversial views as the reason for the split, though industry experts noted that Paramount more likely ended the partnership over the actor’s high earnings from the Mission: Impossible franchise.

Ultimately, Cruise and Paramount patched up their relationship and have continued adding films to the franchise. That includes Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol (2011), Mission: Impossible—Rogue Nation (2015), Mission: Impossible —Fallout (2018), and most recently, Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning (2023).

Jerry McGuire , Eyes Wide Shut , and Magnolia

The same year as the first Mission: Impossible movie, Cruise landed another hit with the highly acclaimed Jerry McGuire (1996), directed by Cameron Crowe. The star secured a second Academy Award nomination and won his second Golden Globe for Best Actor.

Cruise and then-wife Nicole Kidman spent much of 1997 and 1998 in England shooting Eyes Wide Shut , an erotic thriller that was director Stanley Kubrick ’s final film. The movie came out in the summer of 1999 to mixed reviews, but that same year, Cruise enjoyed greater success with the release of Magnolia . His performance as a self-confident sex guru in the ensemble film earned him another Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Vanilla Sky and The Last Samurai

In 2002, Cruise starred in Vanilla Sky , his second collaboration with director Cameron Crowe, as well as Steven Spielberg ’s Minority Report . The following year, Cruise traveled to Australia to shoot the $100 million war epic The Last Samurai, which earned him another Golden Globe nomination.

War of the Worlds

Cruise proved he remained a top draw by starring in the Steven Spielberg –directed remake of the science-fiction classic War of the Worlds (2005), which grossed more than $230 million at the box office.

The third Mission: Impossible movie added to his list of credits in May 2006, but three months later, his partnership with Paramount Pictures, the franchise’s studio, ended. Cruise quickly rebounded with an announcement early that November: He had a new partnership with film executive Paula Wagner and the United Artists film studio. Their first production as a team, the political drama Lions for Lambs (2007), proved a commercial disappointment despite a strong cast that included Meryl Streep and Robert Redford .

Tropic Thunder

Taking a break from weighty material, Cruise delighted audiences with his performance in the comedy Tropic Thunder (2008). Despite his relatively small role in a movie that featured Robert Downey Jr. and Ben Stiller , Cruise stood out by obscuring his trademark good looks to play a balding, obese movie studio executive.

Valkyrie and Rock of Ages

In December 2008, Cruise released his second project through United Artists. The film, Valkyrie , was a World War II drama about a plot to assassinate German leader Adolf Hitler . Cruise starred as a German army officer who became involved in the conspiracy.

Breaking into new territory after another entry in the Mission: Impossible franchise in 2011 , Cruise starred in the 2012 musical Rock of Ages . Although Cruise received some positive reviews for his performance as a rock star, the movie failed to attract much of an audience.

Jack Reacher , Edge of Tomorrow , and The Mummy

Returning to his mainstream action roots, Cruise anchored the 2012 crime drama Jack Reacher , based on a book by Lee Child. He then headlined a pair of science-fiction adventures: Oblivion (2013) and Edge of Tomorrow (2014). Showing no signs of slowing down, the veteran actor in 2015 delivered his usual high-energy performance for the fifth installment of his blockbuster Mission: Impossible franchise .

In 2016, Cruise reprised the role of Jack Reacher for Jack Reacher: Never Go Back . He then headlined a reboot of The Mummy (2017), which performed respectably at the box office but was savaged by critics, before earning better reviews later that year for the crime thriller American Made .

Cruise is one of the most prominent celebrity members of the Church of Scientology . He became a student of the religion, founded by writer L. Ron Hubbard, through his first wife, Mimi Rogers. Cruise credited the church with curing his dyslexia, and he soon became one of its leading proponents.

In 2005, Cruise made headlines as an outspoken Scientologist. He openly criticized his former Endless Love co-star Brooke Shields for using anti-depressants during her recovery from postpartum depression. He also denounced psychiatry and modern medicine, claiming Scientology held the key to true healing. Cruise’s statements led to a heated argument with news anchor Matt Lauer on The Today Show in June 2005, for which Cruise later apologized.

Cruise has been married three times, all to fellow actors, and has three children.

He first wed Mimi Rogers in 1987 but their union ended three years later. Cruise wasn’t single for long.

Also in 1990, he connected with Nicole Kidman , his co-star in the racecar drama Days of Thunder . The movie was unpopular among critics and fans alike, but the two lead actors had real chemistry. On Christmas Eve 1990, after a brief courtship, Cruise and Kidman married in Telluride, Colorado.

For much of the 1990s, Cruise and Kidman found themselves fiercely defending the happiness and legitimacy of their marriage. They filed two different lawsuits against tabloid publications for stories they considered libelous. In each case, the couple received a published retraction and apology, along with a large monetary settlement which they donated to charity. During the first half of their marriage, the couple adopted two children, Isabella and Connor.

On February 5, 2001, Cruise and Kidman announced their separation after 11 years of marriage. The couple cited the difficulties involved with two acting careers and the amount of time spent apart while working.

Following the divorce, Cruise briefly dated his Vanilla Sky co-star Penelope Cruz followed by a much-publicized relationship with actor Katie Holmes . A month after his ties to Holmes became public, Cruise professed his love for Holmes in a now-famous appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, during which he jumped on Winfrey’s sofa, shouting “Yes!”

In June 2005, after a two-month courtship, Cruise proposed to Holmes in a restaurant at the top of the Eiffel tower. In October, they announced that they were expecting their first child together. The hasty proposal and surprise pregnancy quickly became tabloid gossip.

In 2006, Cruise and Holmes welcomed their daughter, Suri. That November, they were married in an Italian castle, with celebrities Will Smith , Jada Pinkett Smith , Jennifer Lopez , and Victoria and David Beckham among those in attendance. However, the storybook romance didn’t last, and in June 2012, Holmes filed for divorce.

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Top Gun Maverick Cast: Character Guide and Descriptions

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Clint Eastwood’s 1982 Science Fiction Thriller Was Influenced by Star Wars

All the signs point to one suspect in american murder: laci peterson, everything deadpool & wolverine did, she-hulk did better.

Top Gun: Maverick has been one of the biggest movie successes this year, and especially since the Coronavirus pandemic. After we saw Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise) graduate Top Gun to become a test pilot in the first movie, he has now returned for a new assignment - to teach incoming students to be young aviators. After 30 years, watching Cruise take to the sky again was mesmerizing, and we were lucky to see some familiar faces along the way. Along with the return of original characters , we were also excited to see some fresh new faces too. Let's take a look at the characters and what their purpose is in Top Gun: Maverick.

Tom Cruise as Capt. Pete Mitchell – Call Sign “Maverick”

Of course, Tom Cruise returns as the legendary Pete Mitchell - main character of both Top Gun films. Better known by his call sign Maverick, Mitchell was hotheaded and a bit of a rebel in the original movie, but after the death of his best friend Goose (Anthony Edwards), Maverick learned to grow up and do him proud, becoming one of the best aviators in the Navy.

The Top Gun sequel finds Maverick test-flying the planes, and although he is still as stubborn (and a bit of a rebel) as we saw in the first movie, he’s now often fighting for others instead of with them. He has bigger responsibilities now, as his top priority at the Top Gun academy is to ensure that all his pilots return home from their mission.

Val Kilmer as Adm. Tom Kazansky – Call Sign "Iceman"

Although Iceman and Maverick graduated alongside each other in Top Gun , they initially did not see eye-to-eye and butted heads a few times. It wasn’t until towards the end of the movie that their relationship developed and became friendly. Despite his battle with throat cancer, Top Gun: Maverick allowed Val Kilmer to return to the role where his illness was incorporated into his character, which made it all the more touching and emotional to watch.

Related: Top Gun: Maverick 'Fan Appreciation Weekend' Announced by Paramount

Kilmer was one of the most well-recognized actors in the world, starring as Batman in Batman Forever (1995). He has also portrayed Mark Twain in Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn and Jim Morrison in The Doors , along with great roles in Heat, Tombstone, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang . Now, however, he has decided to retire from acting due to ill health, but a fantastic experimental documentary about him, Val , was released last year.

Miles Teller as Lt. Bradley Bradshaw – Call Sign "Rooster"

Top Gun: Maverick introduces us to Rooster, the son of Goose and Carole (Meg Ryan in the first film), and there’s no denying that his relationship with Maverick is full of tension. Maverick is of course riddled with guilt after the death of his best friend, but also felt it was his duty to take care of Carole and Bradley. Thus, as a favor to Carole (who didn’t actually want Bradley to be an aviator out of fear that he would suffer the same fate as his father Goose), Maverick sets Rooster back three years, which leads to friction between them. But we know it came from a place of love.

Teller is also extremely well known for his roles in The Spectacular Now (2013) Whiplash (2014), Fantastic Four (2015), the Divergent films, and more recently, The Offer series on Paramount+ as Alfred S. Ruddy. Teller did a great job as Rooster, and won the hearts of viewers everywhere. Plus, like the first film's infamous beach volleyball scene, Teller definitely provided some eye candy.

Jennifer Connelly as Penny Benjamin

Although Penny did not make an appearance in the first Top Gun movie, she was referenced by name as Maverick's old girlfriend, and we see them reunite in Top Gun: Maverick , where their relationship is beautifully rekindled during his time back, and hopefully this time it will last. You may have seen Jennifer Connelly previously in Requiem for a Dream (2000), A Beautiful Mind (2001), Hulk (2003), House of Sand and Fog (2003) and The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008). Her appearance was a fabulous addition to the cast, and she brought a great seriousness and romantic atmosphere to the storyline.

Lyliana Wray as Amelia Benjamin

Where Penny goes, so does her daughter, Amelia, and although she has a good relationship with Maverick, she loves her mother and simply wants the best for her. She does worry that with the strange nature of Penny and Maverick’s relationship, her mother will get hurt. Lyliana does a fantastic job portraying this feisty and loving character, and is a perfect addition to the cast.

Glen Powell as Lt. Jake Seresin – Call Sign "Hangman"

Glen Powell’s charisma shines through as Hangman, and we quickly see that he reminds us of Maverick with his reckless behavior leaving his co-pilots hanging (most likely where he got his call sign from). However, Hangman is still honestly one of the best pilots in Top Gun: Maverick and his relationship with Rooster reminds us of Maverick and Iceman. Powell has also been noticed in Set It Up (2018) as Charlie and Scream Queens (2015-2016) as Chad Radwell. Bringing tension and suspense, Hangman is a brilliant addition.

Monica Barbaro as Lt. Natasha Trace – Call Sign "Phoenix"

One of only two female pilots (unfortunately) at the Top Gun Air Force academy, Phoenix is a good friend to Rooster, but we also see her come into conflict with Hangman. Barbaro has previously held roles in TV shows like The Good Cop , Splitting Up Together, and Chicago Justice , but her role in Top Gun: Maverick is definitely one to remember and her biggest yet.

Lewis Pullman as Lt. Robert Floyd – Call Sign "Bob"

With the blandness of his call sign ("Bob," also his name), Lt. Floyd is a fun addition to the cast, considering just how incongruous he is to all the hotshots and hot-blooded pilots surrounding him. There's a humorous energy between this reserved, awkward, but excellent flyer and his fellow pilots, and it's funny and refreshing to see onscreen. One of this best parts of this character is how we see his relationship develop with Phoenix, who not only become good friends, but Bob becomes Phoenix’s second seat, which is a great honor.

Related: Tom Cruise's 7 Highest-Grossing Movies of All Time

Bashir Salahuddin as Wo-1. Bernie Coleman – Call Sign "Hondo"

Top Gun: Maverick sees Hondo as a Warrant Officer Rank 1, who is working on a program that Maverick is currently test-piloting; he then becomes Maverick's assistant coach when Maverick heads back to Top Gun. Bashir Salahuddin has had a good year for his career, as he also starred in 2022's The Dropout .

Jon Hamm as Adm. Beau Simpson – Call Sign "Cyclone"

Maverick might be well-loved by a lot of his friends and co-workers, but there's always one. This time it's Cyclone. He has strong opinions that Maverick is not up for the job at Top Gun, and he is very strict while overseeing his missions. He's the perfect opponent and rival, and their relationship brings tension and a classic Iceman dynamic to the movie. Hamm is obviously a huge star, from Mad Men to the upcoming Fletch remake , and he does a great job here as a much less charming person than usual.

Charles Parnell as Adm. Solomon Bates - Call Sign "Warlock"

Warlock works alongside Cyclone but isn't actually as strict with Maverick and can be quite forgiving of his past. He even wants to support him, which brings tension between himself and Cyclone and even more drama to the storyline. Parnell has had a full career, always bringing gravitas and authority to his roles, and fans might recognize him from Pariah, Spiderhead , and Transformers: Age of Extinction in 2014. Tom Cruise liked working with Parnell so much that he brought him into the upcoming new installment in the Mission: Impossible movies , Dead Reckoning Part One.

• Top Gun 2 (2022)

Tom Cruise Movies List

1. Endless Love

3. The Outsiders

4. Losin' It

5. All the Right Moves

6. Risky Business

9. The Color of Money

10. Cocktail

11. Rain Man

12. Born on the Fourth of July

13. Days of Thunder

14. A Few Good Men

15. The Firm

16. Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles

17. Mission: Impossible

18. Jerry Maguire

19. Eyes Wide Shut

20. Magnolia

21. Mission: Impossible II

22. Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures

23. Vanilla Sky

24. Space Station 3D

25. Minority Report

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Birth Name: Thomas Cruise Mapother IV

Birth Place: Syracuse, New York, United States

Profession Actor, producer

Subject (person only)

Screenwriter, executive producer, production designer.

What Happened to Tom Cruise's Jack Reacher Franchise?

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The Big Picture

• Jack Reacher was a solid film, but the sequel fell short, leading to doubts about a third installment in the franchise.
• The films offer a different, darker side to Tom Cruise's action hero persona, with more grounded action and violent combat scenes.
• Despite lukewarm reception, a larger framed actor was cast in the Prime Video series, Reacher , which found success with fans and critics.

In the last couple of decades, Tom Cruise has cemented himself as one of the most prolific and prestigious action movie leads, with major success in the Mission: Impossible franchise, a Top Gun sequel that became a global sensation, and a few beloved one-offs like Minority Report and Edge of Tomorrow . But he does have one franchise which seems to have been left behind: Jack Reacher .

The movie was followed by a sequel, this time reuniting Cruise with The Last Samurai director Edward Zwick . Jack Reacher: Never Go Back was a step-down critically and commercially, a disappointing result after a four-year wait. The sequel was released in 2017, and talks of a third movie gradually quieted down as the years went on and as Cruise focused his efforts on other projects, including action franchises that were better fit for his star persona and high-flying aspirations. When Prime Video debuted the Reacher series, starring Alan Ritchson in the titular role, hopes of Cruise continuing the film franchise dwindled even further. Most fans and critics agree that Ritchson's Reacher is a more faithful, successful adaptation anyway. But what happened to Cruise's franchise?

Jack Reacher

A homicide investigator digs deeper into a case involving a trained military sniper responsible for a mass shooting.

'Jack Reacher' Solidified the Partnership Between Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise

McQuarrie and Cruise have been creatively inseparable since they first worked together on Valkyrie . McQuarrie was pivotal in retooling Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol into the major success that it was, and has gone on to bring that franchise to unbelievable heights (literally) while also writing and producing nearly everything Cruise has done since 2008.

But the first movie McQuarrie actually directed for Cruise was Jack Reacher . This first installment follows Reacher being pulled into the criminal investigation and defense of a military sniper who may have perpetrated a mass shooting, eventually finding a much larger conspiracy at play. McQuarrie did not stay on as director for the sequel , but he still maintained a production credit on the film. The McQuarrie-Cruise partnership found Cruise in a period of success unlike anything he'd seen before in terms of box-office draw and pure star power. Mission: Impossible - Fallout and Top Gun: Maverick were both record-breaking successes for him at the time, and both films had significant involvement from McQuarrie.

Jack Reacher was not the origin of their partnership, as they did work together on projects prior to these movies, but it was the first time that McQuarrie really proved that he had the vision and filmmaking talent to manage Cruise's stardom and bring out the best in him.

'Jack Reacher' Distinguished Itself From Tom Cruise's Other Action Roles

The Jack Reacher movies are not often a central point of reference for what Cruise can do as an action hero, but they do offer a different version of Cruise. It would be easy for this team to essentially re-skin Mission: Impossible's Ethan Hunt character into a different world and put little effort into distinguishing the character of Reacher.​ This is not the route they take, as these films are tonally and stylistically different, and Cruise does put in the work to make sure that Reacher doesn't feel like a carbon copy of Ethan Hunt, Maverick, or any of his other iconic roles.

The Jack Reacher series offered Cruise a chance to play a little darker, as these films do not maintain the playful tone of the Mission: Impossible franchise. Reacher is a more world-weary, dejected character. The films feel more violent, with the combat being depicted in a fashion which is more brutal than Cruise's typical register.

I Don't Think You Understand How Big Jack Reacher Actually Is

Lee Child's books are a reminder that the bad guys are dealing with an absolute unit.

The tonal difference, and the reliance on more low-stakes and grounded action compared to the massive setpieces Cruise usually dazzles with, stand to make Jack Reacher worth watching, and the story, at least for the first film, is quite gripping. The villain, for example, was portrayed in a brilliantly wicked performance by legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog . You also get a great performance from Rosamund Pike as a defense attorney who is unwittingly roped into the plot. With a crew of talented actors working under the guidance of McQuarrie, a gifted action filmmaker, it is hard to go wrong with the first Jack Reacher film.​​​​​​

Tom Cruise's Jack Reacher Movies Didn't Leave a Lasting Impression

Jack Reacher was positively reviewed, and grossed $218 million on a $60 million budget . The film made enough of an impression to garner a sequel to begin with, but at a similar budget, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back 's box office intake came in around $160 million . Between the two movies, the series grossed nearly $400 million, and yet neither of these movies tend to come up in the mix of Cruise's most iconic, entertaining, or memorable characters.

Although Cruise does put in the work to make Reacher feel distinctive from Maverick, Ethan Hunt, and any other action heroes he's played throughout his career, the stylistic similarities between Reacher and many other action films, both with or without Cruise, might have kept these movies from standing out in a big way. There are not as many of the large-scale stunts which Cruise has become known for doing in the Mission: Impossible movies. The action is more contained and grounded, which might not be a selling point in an era where hyper-stylized movies like John Wick and its sequels have become the prevailing trend in Hollywood action.

The first movie was a hit and the second was a moderate success, but Cruise's Jack Reacher seemed to fall by the wayside as both he, McQuarrie, fans, and critics seemed to care more about the Mission: Impossible sequels. Prioritizing that franchise seems to have worked out for the best, as Jack Reacher is growing into a strong franchise in a different medium.

What Happened After 'Jack Reacher: Never Go Back?'

Despite the first movie going over relatively well, it was not received as warmly by longtime fans of the book series. Some fans took issue with Cruise feeling miscast for the 6'5" tank of a man that Reacher was consistently written as . Child spoke of this around the release of the first film, explaining that "Reacher's size in the books is a metaphor for an unstoppable force, which Cruise portrays in his own way." This speaks to the strength of Cruise's action movie prowess, his ability to sell you on the notion that he really can do anything, but for some fans, it still wasn't enough.

The first film was based on the ninth Reacher novel, One Shot , which was published in 2005. The two follow a similar story, with Jack Reacher remaining relatively faithful to the overall plot of the book. However, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back adapted the 18th Reacher novel, Never Go Back , which was published in 2013. Jack Reacher: Never Go Back maintains many of the same overarching plot beats as the book, but deviates in that Child's novel is a direct follow-up to a different story in the series that was never touched on in the film adaptations. Overall, the movies are narratively tied to their source material, but Cruise's differing characterization of Reacher is a hurdle that many fans were never able to overcome .

Child did eventually relent, agreeing that Reacher should be played by a larger framed actor, and their wishes were fulfilled when Ritchson stepped into the role for the Prime Video series, Reacher . The series adaptation has been a hit with fans and critics, and a third season is currently in the works . The success of the Ritchson-led series, which McQuarrie is an executive producer on, seems to have filled in the gaps that fans and critics noted in the film adaptation. When the second film was relatively much less successful, these issues were harder to look past for many Reacher fans. The television series fulfilled what the fan base wanted out of that story adapted to the screen, and Jack Reacher: Never Go Back remains one of the few unfortunate misfires in Cruise's impressive action resume.

Will There Be a Third Jack Reacher Movie With Tom Cruise?

While McQuarrie spoke about what continuing the franchise with Cruise could look like, it seems to have landed fairly low on their list of priorities. This is not surprising considering McQuarrie and Cruise are in the midst of what may be the final stretch of the Mission: Impossible franchise while also juggling how they might move forward with Maverick after the massive global sensation that was the Top Gun sequel.

Recently, it was announced that he will star in the upcoming Alejandro G. Iñárritu film , his first non-franchise role in years. He has also been circling a mysterious project with Doug Liman that may take him to outer space , and in addition to that, Edge of Tomorrow sequel talks are always happening . Taking all of this into consideration, Cruise may have a busy schedule these next few years, and with the lukewarm response to his outing as Reacher, it feels less likely that he'd return to this character for a third film. So the Cruise-era Reacher fans may have to settle for nothing more than a double feature, but at least there will be no shortage of Tom Cruise or Jack Reacher gracing our screens in the next few years , just not as one entity.

Jack Reacher is available to watch on Paramount+ in the U.S.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

What’s going on with Tom Cruise’s ‘£153,500,000’ space movie?

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What feels like eons ago, Tom Cruise was announced as collaborating with NASA and SpaceX to film a movie partly in space where he would also become the first civilian to perform a spacewalk.

It appears Cruise is clearly itching to progress from stunts like riding a motorbike clean off a cliff in Mission: Impossible 7 and abseiling into the Paris Olympics stadium to something in a whole new stratosphere .

Back in 2020 the project and its collaborators – including Road House director Doug Liman – were first publicly spoken of, in relation to a space flight set for October 2021, but things have remained earthbound since.

Of course, the pandemic necessitated it be pushed back, followed by the writers and actors’ strike that then happened, presenting major hurdles, as well as Cruise’s own busy calendar of other movies in development.

Filmmaker Liman meanwhile discussed his involvement, admitting to Thrillist of the almost-first-of-its-kind project that ‘when a producer proposes something crazy to you, like, let’s try to shoot a movie in outer space, and NASA and SpaceX sign on, and Tom Cruise signs on… you’re just a little bit more receptive’.

However, a Russian film crew actually pipped Hollywood to the post by shooting scenes for the first-ever movie filmed in space , at the International Space Station, in late 2021. It was called Challenge.

Universal Pictures’ head Donna Langley teased further details of the US’s bold version by revealing that one of the studio’s plans would see Cruise, 62, ‘taking the world to space’ in October 2022.

‘We have a great project in development with Tom, that does contemplate him doing just that. Taking a rocket up to the space station and shooting and hopefully being the first civilian to do a spacewalk outside of the space station,’ she told the BBC .

Langley also shared that the film ‘actually [mostly] takes place on Earth, and then the character needs to go up to space to save the day’, with the chairwoman describing Cruise’s character as ‘a down-on-his-luck guy who finds himself in the position of being the only person who could save Earth’.

But what’s happened since for the movie, which reportedly boats a $200 million (£153.5m) budget, according to Variety?

Well, back in July 2023, Top Gun: Maverick star Cruise confirmed that he was ‘definitely’ still on board.

‘We’re working on that. I’m working on that, definitely,’ he confirmed at the premiere for Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning .

‘I’ve always wanted to do that… We’ve been doing a lot of research for years,’ he added, as per ITV .

And then all went quiet again.

However, Liman has since offered a few breadcrumbs in terms of updates while promoting his brand new action heist movie The Instigators for Apple TV Plus, starring Matt Damon.

He confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that ‘it’s something we still talk about, for sure’, in late July.

Entertaining a discussion about working with the biggest (and probably busiest) movie star in the world, Liman agreed that there was a built-in understanding that it could be a ‘long while’ before their space film got made.

‘So I go in with that,’ he reasoned. ‘There’s a reason we haven’t gone to space yet, and when we finally do and the movie comes out, I know I’ll look back at it and be like, “Thank God it didn’t happen earlier.”’

Just earlier this month he also succinctly described the film as ‘still a dream and a plan’ to Collider .

So Liman is clearly not worried about stoking fan hype, and all may not be lost – although we’re still not exactly dealing in firm details, and there’s not a whisper of planned production or release dates.

This space movie is thought to date back as early as 2014 – if not before – and was given the name Luna Park.

As per IMDb, the film lists Mark Bowden, Jason Fuchs and Simon Kinberg as writers, with a synopsis that reads: ‘A group of renegade employees who venture to the moon to steal an energy source.’

Film Stories reports that an early script that was floated back in May 2014 featured the credit ‘revisions by Doug Liman’.

However, a separate listing on the database, called (rivetingly) Untitled Tom Cruise /Space X Project, credits its leading man with the idea and lists Liman and Cruise’s Mission: Impossible director and collaborator Christopher McQuarrie as writers, alongside a story credit for Ferrari producer P.J. van Sandwijk.

Liman and Cruise have previously collaborated on sci-fi blockbuster Edge of Tomorrow, for which fans are also hankering after a hopeful sequel , and 2017’s crime thriller American Made.

We’ll keep you posted as more comes in on this movie that may well still see Tom Cruise boldly go where (almost) no actors have gone before.

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Tom Cruise's Only Son, 29, Poses with Tattooed Look In Rare Personal Photo after Users Said He Looks 'Older' than Dad

Tom Cruise's son recently shared a rare photo of himself, showing off his tattoos. This snap comes after the former DJ, known for being private, was compared to his dad and received comments about his weight.

Connor Cruise, 29, took to Instagram yesterday, August 18, to give his followers a glimpse of himself via a rare photo. The rarely-seen son of Hollywood icon Tom Cruise shared the image after he received harsh criticism from social media users who saw him and Tom out and about in London on June 28.

Standing against a beautiful backdrop that featured the sparkling blue ocean and an enchanting sunset, Connor and his friend posed for the camera.

Connor, who sported a black golf shirt, white shorts, a black cap, and gray sneakers, wrapped his arm around his friend's shoulders, gave a thumbs-up with his tattoo-covered right arm and hand, and smiled.

His friend, who was similarly dressed, showed off his pearly whites as he held onto an adorable French bulldog. "Happy Birthday @hookedforlife," Connor penned in the text overlaid on the photo, indicating that the friends were celebrating a special occasion.

The photo comes as somewhat of a pleasant surprise, as Connor, typically, does not tend to post frequently on his social media. In fact, a look at his Instagram feed shows that the last time he shared a post was on April 29, 2023.

He posted a snap of himself and an unidentified person standing on a lush-looking golf course, with both rocking the attire typically associated with the sport.

Interestingly, social media activity hasn't been the only thing the 29-year-old has not engaged in for some time. According to a report from 2018, Connor, who forged a career as a DJ a while back, has stopped DJing .

On the matter, a representative from SKAM Artists—the agency that used to book gigs for Connor— disclosed , "He hasn't really DJ'ed in a while."

Adding some fuel to the fire is the fact that, reportedly, the same representative claimed that the company had "stopped sending him work," after Connor failed to attend a gig one evening, without giving any notice of his absence.

Verifying these details is the note on the SKAM website's artist page for Connor, which reads , "There are currently no scheduled events for Connor Cruise."

Fast forward to this year (2024), and there is still no word about Connor potentially coming back to the DJ scene, further emphasizing his knack for privacy.

When it comes to his personal life, Connor Cruise holds his cards close to his chest. However, aside from the occasional social media post, the former DJ has been spotted out on different occasions.

Over a month ago (late June), he was seen making a grand entrance with his dad, Tom Cruise , as they deplaned a helicopter in central London on Friday, June 28. This sighting, which came a week after the actor missed his youngest daughter, Suri Cruise 's high school graduation, prompted backlash from the public .

Paparazzi captured the "Mission Impossible" actor dressed in a short-sleeved gray t-shirt that highlighted his muscular arms, paired with jeans. Tom beamed with joy as he exited the heliport .

In contrast, Connor,who is passionate about fishing , and has even taken part in fishing tournaments , donned a more casual ensemble consisting of a black hoodie and gray pants. He complimented his look with a matching cap, sneakers, and black sunglasses.

Connor's demeanor was noticeably more serious and calm when compared to his father's cheerful expression. The public appearance quickly ignited a flurry of reactions on social media, with many fans sharing their thoughts and opinions.

"So unfair for Suri," one user lamented , reflecting on Tom's absence from his daughter's graduation. Another expressed disbelief, writing , "So he takes care of his adopted son more so his own daughter?[sic]" Adding to the confusion, someone remarked , "He has a son??? I thought he just had Suri and he doesn't even see her."

However, admiration for Connor was also evident in the comments. "Look at Connor, OMG," one fan exclaimed , while another noted , "His son looks good." On the other hand, observers commented on Connor's noticeable transformation, with one stating , "Wow! He sure has gained a lot of weight!" and another netizen adding , "Wow, Connor has grown!"

Critics couldn't resist comparing the actor to his son, with several noting that Connor appeared older. "His son looks older than him," observed one critic, while another added , "Tom looks younger than his son."

A few users pointed out Connor's seemingly unhappy demeanor. "His son looks sad," one person noted , before adding a speculative thought, expressing , "Meanwhile, the bubble over Tom's head reads, 'This'll be a great pic to show what a great father I am.'"

Tom's hangout with Connor once again put the spotlight on the Hollywood star's complex family dynamics and the public's fascination with his personal life.

He has faced significant backlash for skipping his daughter Suri's high school graduation on June 21, where she celebrated this major milestone at LaGuardia High School.

The 18-year-old, whom Tom shares with actress Katie Holmes, received her diploma with her mother beaming by her side. However, her famous father was notably absent.

Tom instead chose to attend Taylor Swift's Eras tour in London the next day. Still, his absence didn't deter the proud teen from radiating happiness. The joyous occasion saw Suri capturing precious moments with her mom and a friend. She also shared heartfelt hugs with her fellow graduates.

Suri and Katie exuded joy as they posed for photos against a backdrop of a charming brick building. The graduate looked stunning in a white dress she paired with matching sandals beneath her graduation gown . Her brunette hair flowed gracefully over her shoulders.

Katie, ever the style icon, opted for cream-pleated pants and a collared long-sleeved shirt. She completed the ensemble with elegant grey sandals. While Suri soaked in the support and love from her mother, her dad's absence on this important day stirred mixed reactions online.

Outraged fans didn't hold back, with one exclaiming , "Shame on her father!" Another one said , "I can't believe her Father didn't come to her graduation!" Critics continued to pour in with comments like, "While dad is partying with Taylor Swift in London. Some fathers."

Amid the backlash, some supporters applauded Suri's decision to drop her father's name, with one noting , "From now on, call her by her chosen name."

The day after Suri's graduation, her father was all smiles at Wembley Stadium in London, enjoying Taylor's concert . He looked sharp in a white T-shirt, dark jeans, and a black jacket, as he shared the spotlight with A-listers like British actor Hugh Grant.

Tom's absence from the graduation isn't surprising, given his estrangement from Suri for years. Their relationship has largely been financial, with no public sightings together since 2013 after Tom and Katie divorced.

At the graduation ceremony, it was noted in the program that she now goes by "Suri Noelle," indicating her decision to drop her father's last name upon turning 18. Noelle is her mother's middle name, as Katie's full name is Kate Noelle Holmes .

Meanwhile, Suri is determined to forge her own path at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. The college is renowned for its top-ranked School of Design.

With a deep interest in fashion, Suri explored various college options before settling on Carnegie Mellon. She revealed the college name in a TikTok video with her friends from LaGuardia High School.

In the video, posted on LaG commitment day and set to Abbi Sutphen's uplifting tune "Always Remember You," Suri displayed her choice by wearing a vibrant red Carnegie Mellon hoodie. The clip captured her enthusiasm as she grinned and playfully highlighted her school's name for the camera.

Suri's college costs will be covered by her father. This is according to her parents' divorce settlement, which mandated an annual payment of $400,000 until she turned 18.

While their relationship is estranged, this arrangement highlights Tom's dedication to supporting her future as she embarks on her higher education journey.

Screen Rant

"challenge accepted": entourage's ari actor welcomes negotiation face-off with tom cruise's tropic thunder character.

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Yes! More Les Grossman Is Exactly What Tom Cruise Needs After M:I8

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• Jeremy Piven is willing to face off as Ari Gold against Tom Cruise's Les Grossman in a negotiation scenario.
• Both characters are based on real-life Hollywood figures, influencing their portrayals on screen.
• Ari Gold's finesse and strategic thinking would likely give him an advantage in a negotiation with Les Grossman.

Entourage 's Ari actor Jeremy Piven welcomes a negotiation face-off with Tom Cruise's Tropic Thunder character. Piven played the role of the brash yet endearing agent, Ari Gold, in the HBO series, a role for which he won three Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series from 2004 to 2011. On the other hand, Cruise made a brief but memorable appearance in 2008's Tropic Thunder as Les Grossman , the foul-mouthed, short-tempered, and balding studio executive behind the production of the eponymous Vietnam War film.

Now on X, formerly Twitter, Jeremy Piven welcomed the idea of a negotiation face-off between Ari Gold and Les Grossman . Check out the interaction below:

The idea was proposed on X by @PoorWorkHabits, who wrote, " How is it that we never got super agent Ari Gold negotiating mano-a-mano against mega producer Les Grossman in an @SNL or @CollegeHumor sketch? You game, @jeremypiven and #TomCruise? #MillennialDreams ." Piven responded, " Challenge accepted ."

Who Would Win A Negotiation Face-Off Between Ari Gold & Les Grossman?

A negotiation face-off between Ari Gold and Les Grossman, especially with Piven and Cruise reprising their roles, is certainly a great idea for a College Humor or Saturday Night Live skit . Speculating about who would win a negotiation face-off between the super agent and mega-producer is also an interesting hypothetical to indulge in. First off, it's worth considering that both fictional characters were based on real-life figures that heavily influenced the creative choices made by their respective actors, and ultimately their portrayals on screen.

Tom Cruise is Hollywood's biggest action star, but a return to his Tropic Thunder comedy character, Les Grossman, is perfect for his next movie.

The entire premise of Entourage is loosely based on Mark Wahlberg and his interactions with his group of friends, and the character of Ari Gold is specifically based on the actor's real-life agent, Ari Emanuel. On the other hand, some commentators and Hollywood insiders have speculated that Les Grossman is loosely inspired by film producers Scott Rudin and Harvey Weinstein, who are known for their explosive tempers and mistreatment of others. Weinstein would later, of course, be convicted of sexual harassment and rape.

Though Ari Gold and Les Grossman are both larger-than-life Hollywood power players with aggressive approaches, their negotiation tactics are quite different. Entourage 's Ari Gold is a seasoned agent known for his quick wit, charisma, and deep industry connections, while Les Grossman is more of a one-dimensional comedic character, his negotiating style defined by dominance and fear. Overall, Ari Gold's finesse and strategic thinking would simply give him the upper hand in a negotiation with Les Grossman . If the sketch idea ever happens, it would certainly be hilarious to see.

Source: Jeremy Piven /X

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Vincent Chase, a young and talented actor, embarks on his Hollywood journey surrounded by his loyal friends from Queens. His inner circle includes Eric, his dedicated manager; Johnny Drama, his supportive but fame-seeking half-brother; Turtle, his fun-loving and resourceful friend; and Ari Gold, his fiercely determined agent. Together, they navigate the complexities of the entertainment industry, balancing career aspirations with personal relationships, and facing the ups and downs of fame with camaraderie and resilience.

Tropic Thunder

Written and directed by Ben Stiller, Tropic Thunder follows a group of bumbling actors attempting to make a Vietnam War film, who find themselves dropped into a real-life warzone when they are abandoned in the middle of the jungle they are shooting the film in. Stiller also stars in the film, with an ensemble cast that includes Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., and Jay Baruchel.