Ordinarily I'd leave Tom Cruise alone, since he doesn't openly shill for Scientology. But after seeing that Paramount has given John Travolta yet another big chance in "Domestic Disturbance," I wondered if Tom Cruise's deal with Paramount mandated that they star Travolta in a juicy role. Does anybody know whether this is true or not? Is Travolta in a contract for a number of movies with Paramount? I can't prove this wrong or right, but maybe someone else can.

Paramount is the top studio (Warner Bros is 3rd):
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/studio/
so it makes sense that they would go after a big star like Cruise. He's "bankable"
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/bankability
But why would they lose money on Travolta (who's NOT on the bankable list)? Could it be to make Cruise happy?

I confess I'm not sure of Paramount's role - Luckily I don't make a living as a gossip columnist or I'm sure my inexperience would get me laughed out of Hollywood. Paramount seemed to be a "distributor" in most of these cases:

PARAMOUNT time line:
Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 2 in 1998 - Paramount Pictures.
Travolta in Lucky Numbers -1999 Paramount
http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&cf=info&id=1802953382

Travolta's next movie Domestic Disturbance is Paramount
http://www.upcomingmovies.com/domesticdisturbance.html
Tom Cruise's next three movies Vanilla Sky, Minority Report, and Mission Impossible 3 - all Paramount
http://www.upcomingmovies.com/crowecruise.html
http://www.upcomingmovies.com/minorityreport.html
http://www.upcomingmovies.com/missionimpossible3.html
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
For those curious about WARNER BROS.:
Travolta was in Battlefield Earth, 1999 distributed by Warner Bros
Cruise in Eyes Wide Shut 1999, Warner Bros
Travolta in Swordfish 2001, Warner Bros.

But WILL Warner Bros distribute Battlefield Earth Part 2? If Paramount seems to have a lock on Tom Cruise anyway (it may take years to produce Mission Impossible 3), why should Warner Bros. waste their time and money?

Don,

I don't agree that John Travolta is no longer bankable.

As of July 4, Swordfish had grossed $62 million, which although not a blockbuster, is certainly respectable, especially for a hi-tech action movie swhich tend to do very well in VHS and DVD releases.

Travolta still has a lot of name ID, and studios will still want him, even though they might not sign him for $20 million until he has another big hit.

I highly doubt that Tom Cruise, or any other actor for that manner, would require in their contract that jobs be given to other actors, with the exception of co-stars they may prefer to work with.

If anything, Tom Cruise's bankability may be in greater jeapordy than Travolta's due to recent high-profile accusations that Cruise is gay.

As for BE2, I have serious doubts that Travolta will be able to raise the kind of financing that a SFX heavy sci fi films needs.

Mike

True, Mike de Wolf, I have no proof, just the coincidence that the one studio still willing to throw money at Travolta is the one banking heavily on Tom Cruise. Maybe it's just that Paramount, the highest-grossing studio these days, is the only studio that can risk big bucks on Travolta.

Don,

It's also possible that the contract signing Travolta on to "Domestic Disturbance" was signed prior to the release of Battlefield Earth, which leaves Paramont no choice other than to keep Travolta on the project.

Mike

Good point. I did a search for Travolta & contract & Paramount and found nothing. I don't know the timing of these deals. The question is will Travolta get $20 million in his next movie? Unlikely. Can he swallow his pride and take less? Presumably, as long as the salary is kept top secret.

Mike de Wolf:

You write "As of July 4, Swordfish had grossed $62 million, which although not a blockbuster, is certainly respectable".

Respectable in what sense? It cost around $100M to produce and market and it is slowing down considerably in the domestic (US) theaters. I highly doubt it will even break even. It won't bomb as badly as BE, but it will be a moderate flop.

Don Carlo,

"Hollywood observers are in wonderment at the brilliance of Travolta's manager, who secured him four separate $20m pay-days just before his career began to tank again two years ago."

From the Guardian, July 8. Full article at 6903,518335,00.html,http://www.observer.co.uk/review/story/0,6903,518335,00.html