Cruise signs MGM contract, revives UA
Hollywood superstar, Tom Cruise has struck a deal with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to make films under the mothballed United Artists (UA) banner, MGM said on Thursday.
The new agreement comes 14 months after Cruise and Viacom Inc.-owned Paramount Pictures abruptly ended their working relations.
In the Wall Street Journal, chairman of Viacom Sumner Redstone cited Cruise’s off screen behavior, high-profile relationship with Katie Holmes, his religious beliefs, and controversial comments to press as some of the reasons for termination of the contract with Paramount in August this year.
A statement from MGM said that Cruise and production partner Paula Wagner would head the re-launch of United Artists. Cruise will produce and star in films for United Artists, while Wagner will serve as UA's chief executive.
As a part of the new deal, Cruise will produce about four films annually under the UA banner and will also acquire a small stake in the studio.
However, the agreement with MGM allows Cruise to appear in movies for other studios also.
Lew Harris, editorial director of Movies.Com acknowledged Cruise’s move and said, “It’s a smart move, and it’s really one of the few things that were left for Tom Cruise.”
Founded in 1919 by screen legends and biggest names in motion pictures at the time, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and director D.W. Griffith, United Artists Corporation is a subsidiary of Metro-Goldwyn-MayerStudios, Inc.
Where on one hand, United Artists banner has nine best picture Oscars to its credit including Cruise’s ‘Rain Man’, the 44-year-old actor is counted as one of the most successful movies star of Hollywood.
Cruise has been recently named the world's most powerful celebrity by Forbes magazine.
The only actor to have six consecutive $100 million plus blockbusters under his belt, Cruise made his leading role debut with ‘Risky Business’ in 1983.
Though the association between the trio (Cruise, Wagner and MGM) promises higher heights for the banner, only time will tell whether they can restore UA’s past glory.
