Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O) announced on Tuesday that it has successfully secured a deal with Hollywood A-lister Tom Cruise to develop and produce original and franchise theatrical films throughout 2024.
The partnership between Warner Bros Discovery and Tom Cruise is a significant achievement for the studio's co-chairs, Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, and aligns with the vision of CEO David Zaslav to collaborate with top-tier talent both behind and in front of the camera.
"Inking a deal with arguably the biggest movie star in the world, Tom Cruise, is hugely significant," remarked Comscore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian.
"Talent attracts talent, and every studio touts their formal arrangements with high-profile filmmakers and stars to signify their commitment to these highly coveted creatives." he further added.
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Tom Cruise, renowned for his leading roles in blockbuster hits such as "Top Gun," "The Last Samurai," and the "Mission: Impossible" series, will set up his office on the Warner Bros Discovery lot in Burbank, joining the ranks of Hollywood legends like Clint Eastwood and Frank Sinatra.
With a cinematic career spanning five decades, Cruise's movies have collectively grossed over $12 billion globally. The 2022 release of "Top Gun: Maverick" alone brought in nearly $1.5 billion, as reported by measurement firm Comscore. His latest film, "Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One," achieved a respectable $568 million in worldwide box office proceeds.
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The collaboration with Warner Bros Discovery is non-exclusive, as Cruise concurrently works on the next installment of the "Mission: Impossible" franchise for Paramount Pictures, according to insider sources.
The film industry, including Warner Bros and other major studios, is currently navigating the aftermath of a prolonged work stoppage in 2023. Hollywood writers initiated the strike, later joined by actors, demanding higher wages and protection against the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in filmmaking.
The dual strikes brought a significant portion of film and television production to a standstill, impacting late-night talk shows and prompting broadcast networks to fill TV slots with repeats of reality shows. Paramount Global (PARA.O), the production house behind Cruise's "Mission Impossible" series, bore the brunt of one of the longest work stoppages in the history of the U.S. entertainment industry, causing a delay in the production of the next "Mission Impossible" film.
