Tom Cruise in Talks to Star in Comic Book “Sleeper” Movie
The Hollywood Reporter is saying that Tom Cruise is in talks to star in the comic book adaptation, Sleeper.
Written by Ed Brubaker with art by Sean Phillips, “Sleeper,” which ran from 2003-05, centers on an operative whose fusion with an alien artifact makes him impervious to pain and allows him to pass it on to others through skin contact. He is placed undercover in a villainous organization by an intelligence agency and falls for a member of the group, named Miss Misery.
Cruise is a co-owner of United Artists but he’s not tied exclusively to the company. Reports are saying that Cruise’s next project is the Spyglass thriller “Tourist”. Both Sleeper and Tourist are not apart of UA. You can read more about Tom Cruise in Sleeper here.
Tags: sleeper, tom cruise movies, tom cruise projects, tourist, united artistsRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Gossip, Movies, Tom Cruise
37 opinions for Tom Cruise in Talks to Star in Comic Book “Sleeper” Movie
Charlotte Rose
Aug 20, 2008 at 11:35 am
IMHO, I would rather see Tom either capitalize on his comedic turn in Tropic Thunder, or do “Tourist” rather than this. Superhero films have been done to death! Tom has always been original and I think he should do something worthy of his talent as an actor. For me, “Sleeper” is not it.
Plus, imagine the field day the press would have with the alien connection to Scientology! I think it would go the same way as Valkyrie seems to be going by having the press slam it before anyone has even seen it!
Do “Tourist” Tom!! Or do something really funny and sweet like the incredible Jerry Maquire!!
Lauren
Aug 20, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I hope he does both. I like Sleeper because it is not like a normal comic book. It has more depth. I dob’t care about the alien connection, the general public loves alien movies.
Tourist is nice as well. After the success of his role in tropic thunder, I would love to see him in another comedy. I hope he does both. Sleeper is definitely better than Edwin A salt.
PuckHappy
Aug 20, 2008 at 1:32 pm
ITA Charlotte, the tabs are already having a hay day with Sleeper and the alien route:
“Sleeper is about an undercover intelligence agent who encounters an alien artifact that makes him indestructible.”
“Sounds like his own Autobiography”.
——
I think he needs to do a comedy where he doesn’t hide behind the monica gellar fat suit.
ACTUALLY……. I’d REALLY like to see him do a weekly television series!!!!!
concerned mom
Aug 20, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Good picture of him by the way.. That is what I think he is most comfortable at–being in actor mode… Never say never, but I don’t personally think Tom would ever do TV. Maybe if Katie goes back to TV which I personally would love, he might do a cameo sort of like Brad did on Friends. That would be highly interesting. I don’t think he should do this movie because the pundits and the tabs would have a heyday cashing in on the ‘alien’ thing. Surely he doesn’t want to bring any more negative attention to his religion. And another thing, Will Smith has done both the super-power anti-hero thing and the end of the world fighting alien type beings in Legend–is it??
concerned mom
Aug 20, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Yes. I don’t think he should go the route of this movie. Good picture of him by the way.. The tabs and the pundits would have a heyday with the ‘alien’ thing
PuckHappy
Aug 20, 2008 at 2:44 pm
You are right C-Mom, I don’t think he would do a weekly TV series either.
I just think it would be a way to get to know another side of him. He wants to be seen as a regular guy and that would be one way to do it.
Kind of like Charlie Sheen has done with his weekly show. Some really nasty stuff has been said about him by the ex with his divorce, but no one has turned on him because they like the character he plays.
tc could win back many if he played a say a father of a blended family in a sitcom. Or something like that.
He is at the tale end of the baby boomers and that age group (female) is tired of the old guy trying to act like a 20 yr old and always fighting, shooting, jumping and killing and then getting the trophy girl.
They want a man to act his age. I’d like to see tc do that for once.
Lauren
Aug 20, 2008 at 5:44 pm
TV? TC? No way….
Besides, he shouldn’t be following advice of people who don’t like him. I am always wary of people who don’t like me, even when they say something that they think would be good for me, I am always suspicious.
Blockbusters no matter how old the super hero is sell. Look at Indiana Jones. Will Smith is 40, his movies are shallow and yet they do well.
I think Sleeper is a good project whatever spin the media puts on it. Can you imagine the spoof from the media if Tom went into TV? Even posters here suggesting it would go on and on about how desperate he is to resort to TV work.
Charlie Sheen and other bad mannered celebs gets away with it because they are not Tom Cruise. Even if he (Sheen) was not on TV and was a scientologist, no one would care because he is not Tom Cruise. R. Kelly is not on TV who cares about him that he is a paedophile?
Tom Cruise’s life, fame, success and over the top happiness scares many people. It is easier to put a spin on it, deny it, believe his career is over, his marriage is a sham, his child is not his etc …because it makes many more comfortable with their own empty, unhappy existances.
Denying it is better than accepting that there is someone who has it all when you, are miserable, with a broken marriage, deep in debt etc.
PuckHappy
Aug 20, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Lauren, why do you continue to say such sad things as: “his career is over, his marriage is a sham, his child is not his etc …because it makes many more comfortable with their own empty, unhappy existances.” ?
You are the ONLY one that has posted words like
this in days.
And THEN you compare R. Kelly to tom? Where does THAT come from?
Are they even friends?
I totally understand that you’d want to put tc in the same arena as Harrison Ford, as Harrison is an EXCELLENT actor that has NEVER had nothing but major hit movies.
But R. Kelly?
And why NOT TV? Brad Pitt does it. George Clooney does it.
tc has not had a hit movie in years and he is having trouble getting anything off the ground now.
He would make a ton of new fans if he’d let them get to know him. If he really has acting skills then he’d prove it by doing tv.
annie
Aug 20, 2008 at 9:20 pm
I can’t imagine TC on television, no he’s a movie actor, but the alien movie might appeal to all age groups, howeverthe media will have a field day with it. I love his movies and can’t wait to see Valkyrie. One year, for my birthday a friend of mine gave me a book on TC called ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE, its actually more about his movies and behind the scenes look and how involved he gets in the making of them, it doesn’t dwell a lot on his personal life, but it’s an interesting read. I think once he puts things together, he’ll be on top again.
lala
Aug 21, 2008 at 8:01 am
What is so wrong with Tom doing tv? Katie started on tv and she’s returning in a cameo on Eli Stone. Nothing wrong with tv. Tom would certainly reach a wider audience that wouldn’t need to leave home, or pay a ticket price, in order to see him.
Lauren, you seem convinced that people are out to get Tom and Tom only because he’s a Scientologist. Do you seriously believe that? And as Puck said, what does R. Kelly have to do with Tom? Should we compare Tom to O. J. Simpson as well, because many people think he got away with murder. But I guess no one really cares about that because we are all too busy persecuting Tom? And BTW, I wouldn’t say “no one” cared about what R. Kelly did because he was charged.
And why would Tom’s fame, success, over the top happiness scare anyone? I’m really not understanding that.
Lauren
Aug 21, 2008 at 8:38 am
Puck, give me a break, you compared Charlie Sheen to TC, what is the connection?
FYI, I was not comparing R.Kelly to TC but giving an extreme example of a celeb who has done unpardonable things and yet he is forgiven.
TC had a hit movie in 2006 MI3, that is 2 years ago, why do you call it years? He has had only one movie since then, LFL. Who said he is having a hard time getting things off the ground? TC does one movie a year, He had one in 2007 and is having another in 2008. He also had a cameo which was a hit.
Lala, scientology is an excuse his attackers use to get at TC. If Katie was married to David Miscavidge himself, the very same people would not be clamouring to free her.
Notice that the people backing this TV idea are people who don’t partiuclarly like him. That alone tells you that all they want is a chance to say he is desperate enough to resprt to TV and then go on and on about the ratings of whichever show he is on.
Besides, he now has a studio to run.
TV? Playing a father in a blended family sitcom? Ewwww…… It would be funny were it not so absurd.
Mary
Aug 21, 2008 at 9:29 am
I think TC knows exactly what works for him when it comes to picking projects.
Funny we should be mentioning Brad Pitt and George Clooney because Ocean’s Thirteen which starred both Pitt and Clooney, along with some other stars made less domestically and worldwide than M:I:3 did and both of those actors most recent projects did not fare well at the box office, both at home and abroad.
Lions for Lambs did poorly but TC’s performance in it received very good reviews as has his performance in the newly released Tropic Thunder.
This was said about Tom Cruise:
“He has thick skin. You don’t get to be his age and his success level without taking some hits, without having some purple hearts.”
Hana
Aug 21, 2008 at 9:44 am
Nothing wrong with TV but I don’t see TC doing a regular TV show ever!
“Lauren, you seem convinced that people are out to get Tom and Tom only because he’s a Scientologist.”
“the new Lala”, yes, a lot of people (including some in this blog) have said that is exactly the reason. To quote some people.
Hana
Aug 21, 2008 at 9:46 am
I don’t know what happened to the rest of my comment.
Hana
Aug 21, 2008 at 10:01 am
Ok, what happened to the rest of my comment? This blog hasn’t been 100% lately.
Charlotte Rose
Aug 21, 2008 at 10:47 am
Lala, scientology is an excuse his attackers use to get at TC.
————————————–
I’m sorry, but I have to comment on this. I find that statement extremely offensive and unfair and a thinly veiled attack on those of us who mentioned the fact that TC might be made fun of because of the “alien” connection. Have you read the internet lately. I’m not saying anything that isn’t well known or true. People DO make fun of Tom’s choice of beliefs. I don’t and won’t, but many people do.
I’m a tremendous fan of Tom’s acting and have remained so, but I am no longer a fan of his personal choices in beliefs. I did a tremendous amount of research into Scientology and I don’t USE it as anything. I have an opinion on it based on that extensive research into all sides of it (both positive and negative) and I do not use it to “attack” Tom. I drew an intelligent conclusion after looking at all sides of the issue. You should do the same. Do your own research and look at BOTH SIDES of the issue. Don’t just randomly attack other posters based on their opinions. That makes you no better than those you claim “attack” Tom. You’re just attacking others for having an issue with a questionable belief system. Attacks are not nice no matter who they are directed to.
I’m just getting tired of these incredibly nasty statements from a certain poster who will go after anyone she perceives as not agreeing with her opinion.
I’m moving on.
Charlotte Rose
Aug 21, 2008 at 11:01 am
To comment on Tom “running a studio”, the reality is that Tom only owns 15% of UA. That’s fact and that information is available everywhere on the internet. Paula Wagner owns an additional 15% which she will retain even tho she is no longer their CEO and MGM owns the remaining 70%, so he hardly “runs the studio”. He may have influence, but MGM has the primary say in what gets made and what doesn’t. Please read Variety or the Hollywood Reporter. Tom has never had an official post at the studio and with Paula Wagner gone (presuming that she an Tom were allies) he loses further influence. Again, a well known fact. I think some are egagerating Tom’s current standing at UA.
The truth of the situation is that Cruise has broken with his partner and friend of 25 years. That’s a career issue for him. He’s had a rough few years. His TT cameo was helpful (he was excellent!), but Tom still has a long way to go before he gets back to where he was prior to 2005.
IMHO, a combination of factors were at work that helped with Tom’s decline. The Scientology factor is definiately an issue. Anyone denying that is either blind or purposely ignoring reality. His choice of films was a second factor. Although Tom received good reviews for Lions (which he deserved, by the way), the film tanked and it was the only film to date released by UA. Next, IMHO is the age factor. He’s 46! That changes they types of roles he takes. In addition, many moviegoers today are too young to care or remember Tom in his heyday of the 90’s (prior to the fiasco of him firing Pat Kingsley) and only see him as that guy with the connection to Scientology. Tom needs to get back to work in quality projects that remind those people what an amazing actor he is and leave his personal life where it belongs……BEHIND THE SCENES.
Just my opinion with a few facts thown in. LOL!
dido
Aug 21, 2008 at 11:26 am
Mary ı all agree with you and you have taken words that ı will say
tyler
Aug 21, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Can there be any doubt that if all fails, you fans could be seeing your little guy on the little screen? Think about it: did you imagine you’d be seeing him in a fat suit throwing out raunchy cuss words left and right in a movie like Tropic Thunder? If you say “yes,” you’re lying. LOL.
No, he shouldn’t go the TV route now. He should continue to pursue movies, particularly since he’s tied up in a big company that stands to lose millions of dollars if he can’t produce something for them. The pressure has to be intense. I will never respect the guy because of “you know what,” but if he can turn this around he’ll deserve credit as a businessman, if nothing else.
tyler
Aug 21, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Mary,
That quote was made by someone who’s businessworld is directly intertwined with Cruise and if Cruise fails so does he. In short, it’s more PR.
Purple hearts? Please.
tyler
Aug 21, 2008 at 12:11 pm
BTW, Lauren, I love it when you talk dirty. LOL.
lala
Aug 21, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Personally I don’t think Scientology is why some people don’t care for Tom. He’s been a Scientologist for ages, a well known fact, and until the last several years, he didn’t have near the amount of backlash. So I don’t think it’s fair to blame Scientology solely. I do think people find fault with it because of the unfavorable publicity, which Tom himself did help to bring attention to. However, my guess would be that more people are turned off by him due to his statements or his behaviors.
Mary, I think Tom knew what worked for him in the past but times have changed. I think he really needs to reconsider the action hero type roles. He either needs to continue in the comedy vein, like Tropical Thunder, or take on more projects like Magnolia, that will showcase his acting. I don’t think his name has the same power it used to, as far as selling movie tickets.
Hana, what do you mean “the new lala”?
Mary
Aug 21, 2008 at 1:48 pm
So Tyler please tell me who said the words I quoted. You neglected to do so in your response and if you can explain how their business world is intertwined with Cruise’s………..I’m interested.
When Tom was cast for Interview with a Vampire, the author Anne Rice pitched a fit and ended up having to apologize to him because she could find no fault in his performance as the vampire Lestat.
His performance in Tropic Thunder is being compared to his performance in Magnolia where Cruise swore more and I would say shocked many who didn’t believe he could pull off the role, he did and to rave reviews and nominations.
Have I gained more respect for Cruise over the past three years…………Absolutely.
Was I shocked by his outbursts in 2005………..Absolutely.
I have respect for him as an actor and I have respect for how he has handled himself throughout the hell of the past three years, where not only him but his entire family and even friends have been criticized to the point of evisceration.
It is one thing to criticize someone and disagree with a point of view but it is quite another thing to do it with the viciousness that has been levelled at Cruise.
Rita
Aug 21, 2008 at 1:48 pm
OK, let me comment today, I rarely do but I love this site and visit often.
Let me get this straight, Tom Cruise said some things four years ago and he is still taking rap for them? Give me a break. We have not yet seen him in a blockbuster. If he does one, It will be a box office hit. Most block busters are. I hope he does this one. I doubt he will do TV. That is not his kind of thing. Like Mary said, he knows what he is doing. He chose the role in Tropic thunder and look where it got him.
Mary and Lauren, your comments are spot on. I love reading them.
Mary
Aug 21, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Lalla……….I think Cruise still does know what works for him. He walked away from Edwin A. Salt because the character was very similar to his
Mission Impossible character,
The director of the 28th Ammendment, Philip Noyce has walked away from that movie but said he would consider returning if Cruise plays the role of the president………….Cruise was slated to play the villan. Cruise turned down the role.
Denzel was slated to play the president but didn’t want to do it because of Barack Obama seeking the presidency.
tyler
Aug 21, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Mary, clearly he’s reaching so, no, he does not know exactly what will work. It will be interesting if he can reinvent himself ala Madonna. Hiding behind that fat suit was a very small first step.
Mary
Aug 21, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Cruise came up with the idea of his character in TT………..That character has given Cruise some of the best reviews he has ever had.
Cruise still knows what works for him. :)
tyler
Aug 21, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Mary,
I apologize for stating the “purple hearts” statement being made by an industry insider. It was actually made by a public relations agent.
Mary
Aug 21, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Tyler,
Apology accepted.
It will be interesting to see what Tom chooses as his next role.
He can’t be that desperate seeing he’s turned down quite a few.
It’s funny reading about all of the projects he’s now “loosely” attached to……… Not bad for an actor whose career many had as over.
tyler
Aug 21, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Mary, I didn’t see Tropic Thunder, but did see that clip on the Internet, and if that brought him the best reviews he’s ever had, he can’t be feeling to good about it all. That clip was for lack of a better word, pitiful. What kind of audience did that movie appeal to anyway? Must have been twenty-year old college boys.
concerned mom
Aug 21, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Walked away from Edwin Salt movie?? Really?? Sounded to me like they are thrilled to be rewriting it especially for AJ. His picker better get better and fast. Losing Paula Wagner after over 20 years of successful partnership and what seems to me to be an absolute critical time for his studio has dealt a terrific blow to the near future of his studio. Is he grasping at straws?? Are there all kinds of rumors flying around about him being connected to this project or that one just to keep his name out there?? Let’s see some actual production/work coming out. At least Paula’s leaving–and boy would I love to have been a fly on that wall when they actually split–has brought the Valkyrie project out of neverland. Not sure if releasing a Nazi war movie at Christmas is likely to change the prognosis on that film’s box office, but I am willing to ‘wait and see’ on that one. Maybe there will be a whole bunch of people who will spend their holiday entertainment dollars on a Hitler movie. Tom’s movies are generally well made, but I sure hope his whole studio isn’t riding on the success of that one movie. He should have lots of movies in the works now–with a $500 million dollar investment by Merrill Lynch… and now he has the green light authority.. So maybe we will soon begin to see projects actually in the works.. If things don’t start popping, I wouldn’t be surprised to see that money sort of dry up.. Hollywood is so not a friendly- wait for you to get your act together sort of town..
concerned mom
Aug 21, 2008 at 6:11 pm
And I still don’t think he better touch this Sleeper movie if he values his religion at all–the alien thing will be compared mercilously with Xenu. And besides in my view as a regular movie-goer I am sort of sick of the comic book genre. That is the one thing Hollywood is really consistent about is if one movie works really well, follow it with 10 others.
Mary
Aug 21, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Tyler, I would suggest you see TT before you judge it so harshly. It works as a satire of Hollywood.
Exactly what clip have you seen of the movie?
tyler
Aug 22, 2008 at 12:59 am
Mary,
Julie posted it tonight. Pitiful.
Hana
Aug 22, 2008 at 3:51 am
“Think about it: did you imagine you’d be seeing him in a fat suit throwing out raunchy cuss words left and right in a movie like Tropic Thunder? If you say “yes,” you’re lying. LOL.”
Yes, and I’m not lying:)
Tyler, have you seen Magnolia? He wasn’t in a fat suit but he did everything else.
Did I mention the critics love him in TT? :)
And I do hope he does more comedy. :)
Hana
Aug 22, 2008 at 3:53 am
Con. mom: yes, he walked away from Salt!!!
I hope he does Sleeper as well as Tourist.
Charlotte Rose
Aug 22, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Hey con mom,
I’m with you. I don’t believe Tom made the choice to leave Edwin A Salt either. I think he was pushed out and anything said otherwise is face saving PR. Just my opinion and what I am hearing. Either way, I’m happy he’s not doing it. I much prefer Tourist.
As far as Sleeper is concerned, I also agree with you. The media, bloggers and individuals would have a field day with the Xenu connection and that whole deal. That kind of talk is rampant on the internet and in the mainstream press! I think it would kill the movie before it ever hit theaters. Lots of people don’t separate Tom’s beliefs from his career. I really don’t think Sleeper would be in his best interest. I’m also not a fan of comic book movies. I’ve worked on some and I just don’t enjoy them. At this point, they’re overdone and if the Xenu thing didn’t kill the film, the oversaturation issue comes into play. There are just too many out there and in development!
Honestly, I think we need to see another performance like Vincent in Collateral or Jerry in JM. Something that reminds audiences what Tom does best. Also, smaller ensemble pieces might be the way to go altho I think Tom would have a hard time moving from being above the line and in charge. With the exception of a few roles (like Magnolia, Trop. Thunder, and Lions for Lambs), he’s used to that. I guess it depends on what his ego will allow. Since I don”t know him, I really couldn’t say if he could deal with that long term. Alot of big name actors have a problem with that once their heyday has passed. There’s also the age issue I mentioned before. Kids are just not seeing him the way we used to back in the 90’s. He’s in a hard place right now IMHO.
As for the TV thing, I don’t think it will happen. Most film actors see that as a major step down. It would be a real ego killer for Tom. He’s got the money to live comfortably forever. I think he’d retire before he did TV.
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