TOM CRUISE DELAYED
Top Gun: Maverick & MI7 Want Mo' $
Despite having a streaming platform now, Paramount Pictures is delaying its 2021 slate of movies again. Yes, that includes two Tom Cruise features, Top Gun: Maverick and Mission Impossible 7. The move sparks the question: is it just for the money?
It seems that’s a resounding “yes.” The only reason the films got pushed for the third time is that Paramount doesn’t think it will draw an audience in theaters. Considering how the box office has bounced back in recent weeks with tentpole films like Candyman and Shang Chi, it’s safe to say Top Gun: Maverick and Mission Impossible 7 have done very well at the box office. Cruise is a household name leading two IP films that were supposed to be the biggest of the year. And there’s no indication that the box office will fully recover from before the pandemic. So, again, why delay?
Well, stars of the same caliber as Cruise are getting into legal battles with distributors. These days, many actors will take a smaller cut upfront and ask for a percentage of the box office. That could be a big payoff. But COVID thwarted that for anyone who is not part of Warner Brothers. (They gave bonuses to all of the crew members going to HBO Max first). One of the celebs who threw a fit was Scarlett Johansson, who, upon leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe, decided to fight her payment terms with Disney+. Because there was no box office and Black Widow didn’t turn up as many premium viewers as expected, she sued for breach of contract to get more money (lawsuit is now settled.). Emma Stone threatened to do the same, but Disney gave her more money for the Cruella sequel.
Based on what we know about Cruise, we speculate that might be happening with his two films. Top Gun: Maverick will now open in theaters on May 27, 2022, instead of Nov. 19, 2021, while Mission: Impossible 7 will debut on Sept. 30, 2022, instead of May 27, 2022. With as sick a trailer as the one for Top Gun: Maverick, we’re incredibly disappointed that it’s not coming out until next summer. Jennifer Connelly and Val Kilmer return, and Miles Teller join the cast.
As for MI7, the action staple doesn’t have a trailer yet, but it’s bound to be bigger than ever — and Vanessa Kirby is making her return. So that’s going to be one to watch for sure, PROVOKRs.
