Atticus Chaos 0 Report post Posted September 15, 2006 http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2006...-scientology-... When Viacom kingpin Sumner Redstone cited Tom Cruise's personal conduct as the reason for killing his production deal with Paramount, the 83-year-old mogul's candor rocked Hollywood. But Radar has learned Redstone may have let Cruise off easy, particularly in light of allegations the actor dispatched goons from the Church of Scientology to intimidate Redstone's studio chieftan, Brad Grey. According to a high-ranking media executive, Paramount Pictures honcho Grey had a highly unpleasant run-in with the Church during his tense negotiations with Cruise over Mission: Impossible 3. Grey, who had recently joined the studio, entered the talks determined to make Cruise accept a smaller share of the gross revenues than he had from the first two installments in the franchise. (For those films, the actor reportedly took home an unheard-of 30 percent of the total revenue.) Leaving the office one night, the diminutive Grey, walking to his car in the Paramount lot, suddenly found himself surrounded by more than a dozen Scientologists, who pressured him to ease up on the actor, according to the source. Following a terse exchange, the visitors allowed Grey to get into his car and leave, but the message was clear. Though he was unnerved by the incident, sources say, Grey stood his ground. After protracted negotiations, Cruise eventually agreed to a less generous deal. Neither Grey nor Paramount responded to repeated queries, but a spokeswoman from the Church of Scientology disputes the report, saying, "The Church has nothing to do with anybody's business affairs." But to many Hollywood veterens, the incident is reminiscent of another recent backlot battle: In the late nineties, John Travolta furiously lobbied reluctant former Fox studio chief Bill Mechanic to produce Battlefield Earth, the science-fiction stinker based on a story by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. "He had Scientologists all over me," Mechanic told Radar last year. "They come up to you and they know who you are." Despite the religion's reputation for intimidating its enemies, Mechanic, like Grey, was unswayed: "Do you think in any way, shape, or form that weirding me out is going to make me want to make this movie?" he said. Battlefield earth was because of scientology? Man, they are evil. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maztinho 0 Report post Posted September 15, 2006 EEEEEEEEEEEVIL. Indeed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lord of The Curry 0 Report post Posted September 15, 2006 This belongs in general chat. Cruise is going to either retire or go nuts by 2008 by the way things are going right now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dubq 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2006 Battlefield earth was because of scientology? Man, they are evil. Dude, it's like their version of the 10 Commandments movie... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Felonies! Report post Posted September 16, 2006 ABC only aired The 10 Commandments on Easter Sunday because the Jewish guys that ran the network thought it would be funny to air a movie that has nothing to do with Jesus. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BruiserKC 0 Report post Posted September 20, 2006 Call Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy...there's EVIL afoot! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites