The guys over at Spoiler TV are running THIS scan of a TV Guide mini-story in which J.J. Abrams indicates Tom Cruise has asked him to return to the franchise as a producer on MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE IV (although Abrams hasn’t committed to directing the film yet). Abrams says he and Cruise are developing a “realy cool idea”. – from AICN
Tom Cruise is zeroing in on the 20th Century Fox action comedy “Wichita” as his next star vehicle. He’ll pair with Cameron Diaz in the James Mangold-directed film. That ends a serious courtship that the star had since January with some of the highest-profile projects in Hollywood. According to sources, Cruise and Diaz have approved the script, and their deals are in advanced negotiations. While Fox has not officially dated the picture, sources said the studio is eyeing a summer 2010 release. Cruise will play a secret agent who pops in and out of the life of a single woman. – from Variety
Top Gun actress Kelly McGillis has confirmed Hollywood’s worst kept secret – she is a lesbian. The 51-year-old, who played Tom Cruise’s love interest in the film about a fighter pilot training school, has long been the subject of rumours but always denied being gay. The actress, who is single, ‘came out’ in an interview with lesbian website SheWired.com:
In no uncertain terms McGillis responded that what she is looking for is “definitely a woman.” McGillis, a long-rumored lesbian who starred on The L Word as a closeted Army Colonel trying a Don’t Ask Don’t Tell case added that she is “done with the man thing.” She said she is “done with that, and needs to move on in life, and that’s another part of being true to yourself.” It has been a challenge personally for her, she added.
Tom Cruise is narrowing the prospects for his next film, but no matter which he chooses, he has single-handedly propped up the script doctoring biz: Studios have spent millions of dollars in rewrite fees to custom-tailor projects for the star. The frontrunners for his next film appear to be the DreamWorks drama “Motorcade,” to be directed by Len Wiseman, followed by Spyglass remake “The Tourist” (with Charlize Theron), to be helmed by Bharat Nalluri, and Fox action comedy “Wichita” (with Cameron Diaz), which James Mangold will direct. Also still in the mix is MGM’s “The Matarese Circle,” which potentially matches Cruise with Denzel Washington and helmer David Cronenberg. – from Variety
But there is method to all the money-spending, as Cruise has vetoed political thriller “The 28th Amendment” (which would have cast him as the President), and the romantic comedy “Lost for Words.” “28th Amendment” even received an extra polish from “Transformers” writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, but to no avail. – from MTV
Tom Cruise is said to be ‘off’ the political thriller “The 28th Amendment”. – from Moviehole
TOM CRUISE hopes to pull off his own Hollywood Mission Impossible by remaking the classic 1969 Western Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, starring himself and close friend John Travolta.
Cruise got the blessing of Paul Newman, who played Cassidy in the original opposite Robert Redford’s Sundance, just months before the film star succumbed to lung cancer last September, an associate revealed.
He intends to produce the remake through United Artists, the “golden era” studio he jointly owns after helping resurrect it as an MGM subsidiary in 2006.
Cruise, 46, wants to cast himself as Redford’s Sundance, a performance friends say ranks among his cinema favourites, while Travolta, 55, will follow in Newman’s footsteps as Cassidy. The iconic tale of two lovable Wild West bank robbers charmed a generation and garnered four Oscars.
- from Express
Hmm. “Romantic Comedy.” Eek, I think they’re a bit too old for the Judd Apatow world of “romantic comedies” we live in…
James Mangold is attached to direct the untitled romantic comedy formerly known as “Wichita” and “Trouble Man” at 20th Century Fox. It’s eyed as a potential pairing of Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. – from Variety
Tom Cruise was on the popular SMAP SMAP program here in Japan, and when asked about the Mission Impossible franchise he revealed that he has started work on the fourth installment…he’s working on the story right now. He also commented that during his visit here he’d been thinking about how to stage a big action sequence in downtown Tokyo..dunno if he was just being polite, but sounds like a cool setting for the series, what? From AICN
Josh Brolin and John Malkovich are onboard for DC Comics’ Jonah Hex. This is not your typical comic book character. Hex is set in the old west, and was created by writer John Albano and artist Tony DeZuniga. He is a bounty hunter who is usually depicted tattered Confederate Army jacket. He is not dissimilar to Clint Eastwood’s famous ‘man with no name’ character – cynical and violent.
In an interesting combination, Tom Cruise and Denzel Washington have agreed to appear in David Cronenberg’s next film, an adaptation of Robert Ludlum’s Matarese Circle. This is an interesting combination, mostly because of Cronenberg’s involvement. Matrarese Circle is a traditional spy thriller – something you don’t envision Cronenberg being part of.
Inglourious Basterds trailer is online. Can’t wait for all the misspellings of this film title.
Joaquin Phoenix is either doing his best Borat or he conducted one of the most stoned interviews ever last night on David Letterman. Check out the full clip.
The Dark Knight’s music score was declared ineligible for the Oscars because five people are listed as composers.
Yikes. Tom, get that girl some cookies. She’s just getting creepy looking.
KATIE HOLMES cuts a super-skinny figure on the red carpet with husband TOM CRUISE at the Brazilian premiere of his latest film. The star donned a senorita-style Christian Lacroix gown for the Valkyrie premiere – however it drew attention to her bony neckline, barely-there cleavage and skinny arms. – From The Sun
Here’s Katie at the premiere of Valkyrie two days ago. This is just wrong. She looks like a bobblehead next to Tom Cruise. Girl, eat a Snickers bar, a bag of Doritos. If you pass away, do you really want Suri to be raised by the Thetans? God no! Save Suri by saving yourself, Katie…
Tom Cruise talks about the death of Jett Travolta – son of his friends and fellow Scientologists John Travolta and Kelly Preston – on ABC’s ‘The View.’ You can see the full interview on ‘The View’ Friday.
AP Movie Critic Christy Lemire reviews the latest WWII drama, ‘Valkyrie,’ starring Tom Cruise.
Meanwhile, on David Letterman:
There seem to be too many presents waiting to be unwrapped at the holiday box office, with five pics set to open wide on Christmas Day. Yet by all indications, many of the titles will work — weather permitting — putting an exclamation point on a year that saw the B.O. stay strong even as the economy buckled. Film opening on Dec. 25 are Disney’s “Bedtime Stories,” Paramount’s “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” 20th Century Fox’s “Marley and Me,” Lionsgate’s “The Spirit” and MGM/UA’s “Valkyrie.”
That doesn’t include holiday titles already in the marketplace, including Warner Bros.’ “Yes Man” and Sony’s “Seven Pounds.” Both releases got off to a frosty start over the weekend thanks to a severe winter storm in the Northeast. – from Variety
Katie Holmes turns 30; McMahon can stay in his home; actor Sam Bottoms dies
The AP’s Alicia Quarles sits down with Hollywood megastar Tom Cruise to discuss his latest film, ‘Valkyrie.’ – From Associated Press
Chris Brown named Billboard’s top artist of 2008; man ordered by judge to stay away from Tom Cruise; Jennifer Aniston goes naked on the cover of GQ magazine.
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