Cruise/Paramount Split a Shock to the Big Boys

The news is old, but people are still talking. The surprising move by Paramount chief-in-command Sumner Redstone to sever all business ties with actor Tom Cruise has confused many of the big names in Hollywood. Biggest of all being director Steven Spielberg who has worked with Cruise on multiple occasions and who's company DreamWorks is currently financed by Paramount. According to rep Marvin Levy, Spielberg may be a influential voice within the Paramount hierarchy (I mean comon...It's Steven Spielberg) but he had no prior knowledge that the Cruise split was going to occur. "The story broke when Steven was on an airplane. He found out after the plane landed" said Levy.

 

There is no information on how Spielberg is handling the situation. Personally I would be very pissed. Plus a little perplexed, considering that despite the negative opinions he is getting for his conduct as of late, Tom Cruise is still one of the biggest Box-Office draws in Hollywood. Now maybe if the studio execs know something we don't maybe I can understand. But until then I'm as shocked as Spielberg. And Spielberg isn't even the only major player who's trying to understand why a studio would make such and air-head decision. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has also voiced his concern, and added "It's not what I would do".