Mr. Cruise, his partners at United Artists and the Valkyrie filmmakers are bracing for what will likely be a nine-month fight to prove their critics wrong. "We will not be daunted," Paula Wagner, chief executive of United Artists, said last week.

During a 90-minute interview at the company's headquarters in a Century City office tower, Ms. Wagner said she and her fellow executives were intent on overcoming negative reactions that she saw as rooted in ignorance of the process of building movie production companies.

"Anybody trying to dismiss us or write us off doesn't understand the business," Ms. Wagner said. She added: "Nothing is going to stop us. We are determined to make this work."

OK, we admit it: We don't understand the business. Like the second release-date shift out of Oscar season and into the dramatic dumping ground of February? That's apparently totally normal. That whole thing about Mary Parent showing up on the scene and reportedly getting a base salary of $5 to $6 million to remake MGM on her own, non-UA terms? Totally coincidental — nothing to do with UA's flailing! MGM chief Harry Sloan's vague defense of UA? A ringing endorsement! That public lunch date between Cruise and Sumner Redstone? Nothing to do with movies! Redstone probably just wanted recommendations for Suri's birthday gift — preferably an action franchise installment under $125 million.

Or maybe we understand the business just enough to know we've seen this before. To paraphrase Paul Sunday in There Will Be Blood, "We'd like it better if you didn't think we were stupid." It's not like we want to see UA fail, but come on. Even Roger Friedman can see this one coming.

• The Nazi Plot That's Haunting Tom Cruise and United Artists [NYT]

Delicious as they were, Redstone's takedowns of Cruise during the pair's 2006 bust-up never exceeded the realms of showmanship; the hard feelings that surfaced in the press aren't quite what you'd call insurmountable. Especially under these circumstances, with Paramount facing the loss of its disgruntled moguls (and their properties) at DreamWorks and Cruise (with producing partner Paula Wagner) wedged into an already over-budget, so-far-so-bad production and distribution deal with MGM — which owns about 65 percent of UA but is also hedging with reliable, low-maintenance new hires to create a totally separate production slate. None of this pleases Cruise and Wagner, who are reportedly disappointed enough in MGM's feeble infrastructure to buy MGM out with a percentage of future deals headed back to the studio. If they did it at Paramount, though, with Redstone capping budgets around $60 million, would it even be worth it?

We're just saying, of course. There's no accounting for ego and/or hard feelings, but really, there's not that much water under these guys' bridge. And we all know lunch at the Polo Lounge is never just "lunch." Is it?

• Mission Possible: Redstone, Cruise Re-Establish Ties [WSJ]
• All Forgiven? [NYP]

We just love the idea that a giddy Cruise (the buzz over bringing Paul Haggis into his family surely hasn't faded) now begins each day by diving into the enormous pile of screenplays that dominates his office, and, after emerging from the mound holding aloft a bradded trophy, shouts to his overwhelmed development staff, "Now this one's gotta be better than Lions for Lambs. Let's make a movie. No, let's make a thousand movies! We've got the whole business to ourselves!"

• Previously: Cruise's United Arists Cutting Deal With WGA; AMPTP Less Than Pleased With Traitorous Studio [Defamer]

· Sundance's high-profile "Premieres" titles have been revealed, including Jack Black/Mos Def/Michel Gondry project Be Kind Rewind and Alan Ball's directorial debut, Towelhead. [Variety]
· Running out of new episodes of its scripted series, NBC is cramming three extra hours of reality shows onto its early 2008 schedule, with American Gladiators, The Biggest Loser and 1 vs. 100 filling timeslot holes caused by the strike. "We're kicking off the New Year with a craptastic, writer-free bang!" crows NBC's head of alternative programming. [Variety]
· Cameron Diaz's Christmas wish is granted as Shrek the Halls puts up "socko" (translation: huge) Nielsens Wednesday night, ensuring that future generations of children will be spending the holidays with their favorite Santa-ogre. [Variety]

But back to business. The film's lack of commercial appeal wouldn't be a problem if the movie were generating reviews that would give it Oscar fuel. But it isn't, and UA's got two more tough-to-market movies coming down the pipeline. Up next is Valkyrie, in which Cruise plays Col. Claus von Stauffenberg, a German icon who tried to assassinate Hitler. You might recall that the Germans—hostile to Scientology—wouldn't allow filming in the Bendlerblock, where Stauffenberg was executed. When the government relented, footage shot there was mysteriously damaged in the lab and had to be reshot.

Valkyrie is a period piece with a downer ending, but at least it's directed by Bryan Singer, who has The Usual Suspects and the first two X-Men to his credit. He might be able to make a movie that has some box office appeal, though whether the public is prepared to swallow Cruise in a Nazi uniform with an eye patch is obviously a looming question. (One industry veteran sniped that the photo from the production makes Cruise look like one of the Village People.)

The third movie coming from UA is Oliver Stone's take on the My Lai massacre. No kidding. At least they cast Bruce Willis instead of Mel Gibson, who was considered at one point.

Even taking into account our suspicions that there's a powerful network of Teutonic saboteurs who will stop at nothing—they've proven themselves unafraid to employ flatulent suicide-bombers to wreak havoc on the shoot— to bring down the Valkyrie project, we think the single greatest threat to the film's success, as Masters alludes to above, is the indelible image of Cruise released by United Artists months ago. Every time we see him in that costume, we're consumed by a fantasy of grabbing the star by his cheeks and telling him, "Who's my adorable little Nazi hunter? Who's gonna go off and kill the big bad Hitler today? You are! Don't forget your lunch, I packed you a yummy ham-and-chesse sandwich today!," an urge that's done little to dispel our fears about the actor's persistent credibility problems.

• The Couch Jumper Can't Win [Slate]

The U.S. actor has been cast as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, leader of the unsuccessful attempt to assassinate the Nazi dictator in July 1944 with a bomb hidden in a briefcase.

Defense Ministry spokesman Harald Kammerbauer said the film makers "will not be allowed to film at German military sites if Count Stauffenberg is played by Tom Cruise, who has publicly professed to being a member of the Scientology cult".

"In general, the Bundeswehr (German military) has a special interest in the serious and authentic portrayal of the events of July 20, 1944 and Stauffenberg's person," Kammerbauer said.

We fear that the German government's lingering prejudices have clouded their judgment in this matter, basing their hasty decision on an early treatment developed by Cruise, in which his von Stauffenberg character attempts to slowly kill Hitler by depriving him of the many self-actualizing services offered by Scientology, causing the Fuhrer to die from the despair of knowing he'd never reach his potential as a fully clear leader without the help of daily auditing sessions. The project has since been turned over to respected Usual Suspects writer Chris McQuarrie for a more action-packed and historically accurate script, which should calm the Bundeswehr's fears about the authentic portrayal of the protagonist.

• Germany bans Cruise film shoot from military sites [Reuters]

Snyder, who threw the box-office star a multimillion dollar life of an overhead and development cost deal days after Cruise was booted off Paramount's lot, looks like he may be interested in funding movies for the new United Artists stakeholder.

Over the last two months Snyder has been actively meeting with Hollywood talent agencies - including Creative Artists Agency, which reps Cruise - to get advice about how to break into the film business, according to two sources with knowledge of the meetings. [...]

A Snyder cash infusion would be a huge win for Cruise, who returned from his Sumner Redstone banishment last week with everything but investment cash to fund his projects in hand.

But just as quickly as you can say "show me the amusement park money," the Post finds an anonymous source who thinks that Cruise and MGM just want to play people like Snyder for suckers:

Cruise/Wagner will have to co-finance movies - with budgets ranging from $40 million to $60 million - with their own money or by raising it through third-party investors.

"They're looking for fool's money," said one source. "MGM will put up seed money in the hopes of luring the bulk of the financing out of a dumb financial player before they realize just how risky it is to pour money into movies."

Once Snyder's huge checks clear and he moves on to the next potential investor, it's not hard to imagine that his new BFF will suddenly find himself a little too busy to spend lazy afternoons hanging out in the owner's box at FedEx Field, returning all of Snyder's plaintive "where r u? great game 2day, buddy!" texts with terse, "sorry...gotta work. next time, donny" responses.

• TOMMY'S GUN [NY Post via Wiretap]

OK, here goes: she started out as an actress. After working in New York theater, Wagner moved to Los Angeles and hoped-for stardom, but had to settle for a few bit parts of television. Her agent, Susan Smith, had seen some of the best in the business (Sally Field, Kathleen Turner and Glenn Close) because of her acumen for spotting talent, and Smith quickly recognized that, as an actress, Wagner was only mediocre.

After a year of trying to jump-start Paula's career, Smith finally called Wagner into her office. "Go away over the weekend and think about what I say to you. You have three choices: either you must leave the agency because I don't know how to do it for you., or you have to go to regional theater and remember what acting is about again, or, and this is the one I recommend, you give up acting and let me train you to be an agent, because I think you could be terrific." As Smith talked, tears streamed down Wagner's face. That Monday, Wagner began her training as an agent.

That couldn't have been an easy day; no one with dreams of making their way in Hollywood in front of the camera wants an agent to summon her to the office, close the door gently behind her, and say, "Kid, let's face it—this acting thing ain't happening. That dream dies here. But you know what? You've got moxie, and I think you're one hell of a liar. How'd you like to spend your life making money from people doing a thing you'd like to do, but that you're no good at? No? Yeah, whatever. You start Monday, kid." But it's exactly moments like that in which future studio bosses are born.

• The 411 On Tom's Partner Paula Wagner [Deadline Hollywood Daily]
]]> Fri, 03 Nov 2006 13:52:00 PST Mark http://defamer.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=212387&view=rss&microfeed=true While scouring the roughly sixteen thousand stories trailing Tom Cruise's unexpected, imminent return to gainful employment this morning, we noticed a lone voice rising from the desert of media analysis, repeatedly countering all the prematurely exuberant chatter about how the actor and producing enforcer Paula Wagner are ready to revive United Artists' legacy, usher in a new, talent-fellating Hollywood Golden Age with their studio gigs, and summon down from the heavens a deluge of investor cash. Not so fast, says our go-to Cruise contrarian:

"'Good for Tom — it's a great press release,' said media analyst Harold Vogel. 'But it's little beyond a press release and the revival of a moribund label that happened to be available.'" [LAT]

· "'The actors are not going to have a cakewalk,' said Harold Vogel, the author of 'Entertainment Industry Economics.' 'These investors don't say, "Oh, it's so glamorous to go to a party." They aren't that dumb. Instead they say, "You will get your money, but we get ours first."'" [NY Times]

· "'Does he still have it? That remains to be seen,' said veteran entertainment analyst Hal Vogel. 'This is not exactly a big studio, it's a moribund label,' Vogel added. 'Let's see what the projects are,' and how much financing they get." [NY Daily News]

]]> Fri, 03 Nov 2006 09:23:14 PST Mark http://defamer.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=212252&view=rss&microfeed=true

We realize that Tom Cruise's newly resurrected United Artists is merely a brand within the MGM family, but we still think that his parent studio needs to recognize their historic partnership with the star in dramatic fashion. What better way to celebrate Cruise's incipient moguldom than by erecting a UA water tower atop MGM's headquarters, the kind of iconic structure that already beautifies the property of several competitors' lots? We feel so strongly about the idea that we've devoted a good five or six minutes of our in-house design department's valuable time to conceptualizing such a monument, which would loom intimidatingly over Century City and be visible for miles in every direction, letting the entire town know where Cruise's new moviemaking power is centralized. Failing this, MGM could always opt for something on a smaller scale, like commissioning a tasteful bronze sculpture for their lobby depicting the actor kicking Sumner Redstone in the ass.

• Breaking: Tom Cruise To Redstone: 'F You, I'll Get My Own Damn Studio' [Defamer]
• Defamer Interior Designs: Decorating Tom Cruise's New Office [Defamer]
]]> Thu, 02 Nov 2006 13:42:07 PST Mark http://defamer.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=212057&view=rss&microfeed=true

· It still hasn't totally sunk in that Tom Cruise is going to be running United Artists. We think we all still need some time with this one. [Variety, THR]
Robert De Niro and 50 Cent are in "final negotiations" to star as partners in cop thriller New Orleans, a project that is screaming out to be immediately reimagined as a Lethal Weapon-style buddy comedy. [THR]
Producer Brian Grazer, Universal, and a dump truck full of cash are close to convincing Spike Lee that a sequel to seemingly self-contained bank heist flick Inside Man is a good idea. [Variety]
Madonna-founded Maverick Films is suing a film production company for stealing its ideas for a movie Maverick is making on the Stanford Prison Experiment, which they themselves originally appropriated from a Psychology 101 college textbook. [THR]
Universal's Rogue Pictures will distribute legendary video-game-adapting hack Paul W.S. Anderson's Castlevania movie. [Variety]

]]> Thu, 02 Nov 2006 12:25:38 PST Mark http://defamer.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=212030&view=rss&microfeed=true While various Hollywood types anonymously scoffed at Tom Cruise's plan to fund his post-Paramount moviemaking comeback with funds derived from funnel cake sales and spare change lost by patrons hanging upside down in various gravity-defying thrill rides, we always had the feeling [Ed.note—Sure we did!] that Cruise was planning something a little more dramatic. A press release issued this morning has just revealed the shocking news that Cruise is personally—personally!—reviving dormant studio United Artists with producing partner Paula Wagner and MGM. Retreat into the fetal position and shudder in existential fear as you're introduced to Tom Cruise, movie mogul:

"Partnering with Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner, we have the ideal creative foundation from which to reintroduce the United Artists brand," said [MGM Chairman and CEO Harry] Sloan in making the announcement. "Tom and Paula are the modern versions of the iconic founders of United Artists - Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin and D. W. Griffith - and our partnership with them reaffirms our commitment to providing creative talent with a comfortable home at United Artists and a dedicated distribution partner in MGM. United Artists is once again the haven for independent filmmakers and a vital resource in developing quality filmed entertainment consistent with MGM's modern studio model."

Variety and THR now have stories up, but the entire press release, for those enamored of long stretches of carefully crafted PR prose, is after the jump:

MGM PARTNERS WITH TOM CRUISE AND PAULA WAGNER TO FORM NEW UNITED ARTISTS

Paula Wagner to Serve as CEO of the New UA

LOS ANGELES, CA November 2, 2006 — United Artists, the studio founded by
movie greats Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford and D.W.
Griffith some 85 years ago and responsible for delivering such iconic film
franchises as "Rocky," "Pink Panther" and "James Bond," will be reborn
under a partnership formed between Tom Cruise, Paula Wagner and
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. (MGM). The announcement was made today by Harry
E. Sloan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, MGM.

Cruise and Wagner, one of the most successful film production teams ever,
will drive the rebirth of United Artists as MGM's operating partner. Along
with their substantial ownership, Cruise and Wagner will have control of
setting the company's production slate, from development to production
greenlighting ability, subject to certain parameters. Wagner will serve as
Chief Executive Officer of United Artists, overseeing the day to day
operations of the studio alongside her longstanding producing partner
Cruise, who will star in as well as produce films for United Artists and
also be available to appear in film projects for other studios.

Cruise last teamed up with the original UA on "Rain Man" in 1988, which won
four Academy Awards including Best Picture.

In establishing United Artists as a new entity, MGM and Cruise/Wagner will
return the studio to its former roots by recognizing what made UA great in
the first place - studio management by creative talent who can best
encourage and support other creative talent. The talent friendly studio
will be reborn as a place where producers, writers, directors and actors
can thrive in a creative environment, developing and producing entertaining
film projects. The plan would allow artists throughout the community to
pursue their creative visions outside of the traditional studio system.

The studio plans to have a production slate of approximately four (4) films
each year, which may increase in the future. Worldwide marketing and
distribution will be handled by partner MGM. UA will be a major supplier
of feature films to MGM, with production and development of UA movies being
fully financed by MGM and its partners. MGM is the only major studio
controlled by private equity firms which include Providence Equity Partners
and Texas Pacific Group along with industry partners Comcast Corp. and Sony
Corp. of America.

"Partnering with Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner, we have the ideal creative
foundation from which to reintroduce the United Artists brand," said Sloan
in making the announcement. "Tom and Paula are the modern versions of the
iconic founders of United Artists - Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford,
Charlie Chaplin and D. W. Griffith - and our partnership with them
reaffirms our commitment to providing creative talent with a comfortable
home at United Artists and a dedicated distribution partner in MGM. United
Artists is once again the haven for independent filmmakers and a vital
resource in developing quality filmed entertainment consistent with MGM's
modern studio model."


Continues.
CRUISE/WAGNER/page 2

Commented Cruise: "Paula and I are very respectful of the rich history and
tradition of United Artists, and we welcome the opportunity to contribute
to that legacy by providing a wide range of releases that appeal to all
audiences. It's our desire to create an environment where filmmakers can
thrive and see their visions realized."

"This is a great opportunity for Tom and me to re-establish the United
Artists brand and to work closely with the creative community," stated
Wagner. "As studio partner-operators, we will provide a supportive
environment and infrastructure for filmmakers that will allow them to do
their best work."

"Providing Tom and Paula with the ability to greenlight films under the UA
banner validates MGM's commitment to and recognition of independent
producers as the true creative nucleus of Hollywood filmmaking," said Rick
Sands, COO of MGM. "The relationship between UA, which will provide the
creative environment for independent producers to nurture content of their
own vision and MGM, which will apply its expertise to distribution and
marketing to those projects, is an ideal collaboration of art and business.
The resurgence of United Artists will take us another step closer to
realizing the full revitalization of MGM. Harry and I are personally
thrilled to be working with Tom and Paula."

Paula Wagner and Tom Cruise launched Cruise/Wagner Productions as an
independent production company in September 1993. Since its inception, the
company has enjoyed unparalleled success, producing a wide range of films
that have earned multiple awards, widespread critical praise and global box
office grosses in excess of US$2.9 billion. Films produced by the company
include the Mission Impossible franchise as well as critical and commercial
successes such as "War of the Worlds," "The Last Samurai," "The Others" and
"Vanilla Sky," among others.

Tom Cruise is one of the most successful, critically acclaimed and sought
after movie stars in the world. In a career spanning 26 years, Cruise has
received three Academy Award nominations and has won three Golden Globe
awards for his performance in such hit films as "Born on the Fourth of
July," "Jerry Maguire" and "Magnolia" and numerous accolades for his
performances in "The Last Samurai," "Minority Report" and "Collateral."
Cruise's films have resulted in worldwide box office totals of
approximately US$6 billion and his last two films, "War of the Worlds" and
"Mission: Impossible III" have grossed nearly US$1 billion worldwide.
Overall, Cruise has made 14 films that have grossed US$100 million in
domestic receipts alone, with his last seven consecutive films reaching
that benchmark.

The agreement between Cruise Wagner Productions and MGM/UA, which takes
effect immediately, was brokered by Cruise Wagner's representative CAA and
attorney Bert Fields.

]]> Thu, 02 Nov 2006 11:15:12 PST Mark http://defamer.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=211999&view=rss&microfeed=true