Tom Cruise And Hollywood's Superstar Crisis Togather

A Tom Cruise action movie would normally be a huge Hollywood event — and a guaranteed hit. These days, however, people are not so sure. Cruise's career has had its ups and — more recently — its downs, and a lot is riding on the success of his new movie Knight and Day. Not just for him, either, but for the entire business model of star-powered blockbusters. NPR's Steve Inskeep talked to reporter Kim Masters about what Knight and Day could mean for Cruise — and for Hollywood more generally. An edited version of their conversation:

So, what's changed about Tom Cruise over the past few years?

Well, the question's not just what's changed about Tom Cruise, but what's changed about Hollywood? We'll start with Tom Cruise. Of course, everyone remembers the strangeness that happened a few years ago, when he was jumping on Oprah's couch, when he was reproaching Matt Lauer. He was very public about his association with the Church of Scientology, and the whole thing was actually something we've never seen before: Here was a huge international movie star spinning out of control. He had fired his publicist, and he damaged himself. But there's also the age factor. It happens to guys too. He's not a kid anymore and the bottom line is that Knight and Day is not tracking well: Audience research does not show huge interest in running out to see this movie. And therefore the panic and the finger-pointing have already begun.
Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman
Enlarge Vince Bucci
Anything Seemed Possible: Tom Cruise and then-wife Nicole Kidman arrive at the premiere of Cruise's massive blockbuster hit, Mission: Impossible.
Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman
Vince Bucci

Is Mission Impossible 4 About to Get LaBeoufed?

Paramount may not have anything to do with Fox's Knight and Day, but since they're back in the Tom Cruise business with both the upcoming Mission: Impossible 4 and their recently green-lit Len Grossman movie, they're keeping close watch on its box office this week. According to Deadline's Mike Fleming, a soft opening for Knight probably won't mean the cancellation of M:I:4, though it might inspire the studio to "beef up the subplot that introduces a new and younger agent who becomes Ethan Hunt's protege." Great idea! Unless you'd like to see our chilling photo illustration turned into reality, you should probably go see Knight and Day immediately.