.Even though details about Quentin Tarantino‘s 10th and potentially final film, The Movie Critic, remain under wraps, the project is already generating excitement. The film is shaping up to be a star-studded affair, with new reports now suggesting that Hollywood A-lister Tom Cruise is close to securing a supporting role, alongside the previously rumoured involvement of Brad Pitt. Cruise is reportedly even juggling his schedule to make the collaboration with Tarantino possible.
Per Variety, Cruise is looking to “return to working with auteurs” as he looks to diversify his career beyond action. Earlier this year, the 61-year-old actor entered a non-exclusive strategic partnership with Warner Bros. to jointly develop and produce films and even discussed potential projects with studio chiefs Pam Abdy and Michael De Luca. Possibilities included an Edge of Tomorrow sequel and Quentin Tarantino’s The Movie Critic, which is currently seeking a distributor and has reportedly attracted major interest from Warner Bros., alongside other studios.
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“In January, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group chiefs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy jetted to London to connect with the new crown jewel of the studio, Tom Cruise,” wrote Variety. “The three met to identify a film that would kick off their nonexclusive “strategic partnership.” Sources say a raft of possibilities were discussed, including an Edge of Tomorrow follow-up and Quentin Tarantino’s The Movie Critic, which currently isn’t set up with a distributor and has Warner Bros., like every major studio, salivating.”
Furthermore, even movie insider Jeff Sneider in his recent newsletter reported that Cruise is looking to shift his schedule to appear in Tarantino’s The Movie Critic, lending more credence to the possibility of the actor working with the director. Cruise is reportedly eyeing a cameo or small role in the film alongside Brad Pitt, whose role also remains a mystery.
Cruise, one of the world’s best action stars known for his stunts, has enjoyed immense success with the long-running Mission: Impossible franchise. But as the franchise nears its end with Mission: Impossible 8, Cruise is ready for a change. The actor is looking to put his under-appreciated acting chops to good use as he seeks more grounded and serious projects.
Beyond his rumoured role in Tarantino’s next film, Cruise has also lined up his next lead role. As per Deadline, he has joined the cast of Alejandro González Iñárritu’s currently untitled project, co-written by Iñárritu, Sabina Berman, Alexander Dinelaris, and Nicolas Giacobone.
As for the plot for The Movie Critic, Quentin Tarantino will be bringing to life the story of a real-life film critic who wrote for an adult magazine. As a teenager, Tarantino stumbled upon this critic’s work while restocking a magazine vending machine. Though the critic’s career was cut short by his tragic death in his late 30s, Tarantino was captivated by his cynical and insightful writing style, described as a blend of ‘early Howard Stern’ and a film-obsessed Travis Bickle from Taxi Driver.
While speaking to Deadline, Tarantino said, “He wrote about mainstream movies and he was the second-string critic. I think he was a very good critic. He was as cynical as hell. His reviews were a cross between early Howard Stern and what Travis Bickle might be if he were a film critic. He wrote like he was 55 but he was only in his early to mid-30s. He died in his late 30s. It wasn’t clear for a while but now I’ve done some more research and I think it was it was complications due to alcoholism.”
