Does Cruise Move Mean Death To Mission: Impossible

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Paramount studio executives' shocking decision to part company with TOM CRUISE's production team could signal the end of the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE film franchise.

Paramount boss SUMNER REDSTONE announced the studio's decision to end a 14-year-old relationship with Cruise and his partner PAULA WAGNER earlier this week (beg21AUG06), admitting he was unhappy with the movie star's public behaviour over the past 12 months.

The knock-on effect of the Paramount decision could spell the end for Cruise's Mission: Impossible movies, as well as a number of other projects the film star was working on.

A studio insider tells website Moviehole.net, the drastic action isn't just "a car space and workplace that Cruise/Wagner have lost".

The source tells the site, "It was just too expensive to have them stay on here.

"You've probably read lately how a couple of films, all which Cruise was attached to at one point, have now started afresh with a new cast, and as a consequence, have found themselves with a green light they'd been unable to score with him onboard.

"Cruise was trying to get a Mission: Impossible 4 happening - but Paramount just weren't interested in continuing that series at the present time."

Cruise is now reportedly working on a new project with DANNY DeVITO and Warner Brothers executives.

TOM CRUISE's producing partner PAULA WAGNER is furious with the treatment the pair have received from Paramount Pictures and insists they were the ones who turned their back on the studio after failing to reach an
agreement regarding their contract.

The studio yesterday (22AUG06) announced it was severing ties with the pair after 14 years, citing Cruise's "unacceptable" offscreen behaviour, which included promoting his relationship with KATIE HOLMES and his beliefs in Scientology.

Wagner says, "We had ceased negotiations. I'm not sure why this happened. You need to respect your artists. "I don't understand why this would be turned into a personal attack. Because that's what it is." Wagner says the pair were planning to strike out on their own and have raised
a revolving fund of $100 million (£56 million) from two hedge funds to establish an independent production company.

Cruise had been a lucrative asset for the studio in the past with his films grossing more than $2.5 billion (£1.4 billion) for Paramount.

According to sources close to Viacom chairman SUMNER REDSTONE, who owns Paramount, the studio estimated that Cruise's uncensored offscreen antics were thought to have cost the studio $150 million (£83 million) in lost box office receipts for MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE III.

Top Hollywood producer JERRY BRUCKHEIMER, who has made several movies with Cruise including TOP GUN and DAYS OF THUNDER, has come to the star's defence. He says, "He's as viable an actor as he always was. He's a worldwide star and
a lot of people want to work with him, including me."


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