Tom Cruise's Les Grossman Movie Still in Development After 17 Years
The long-awaited spinoff featuring Tom Cruise's unforgettable Tropic Thunder character gets a surprising update from co-writer Justin Theroux, revealing the project remains active despite years of silence.
The explosive 2008 comedy that shook up Hollywood continues to generate buzz nearly two decades later. Tom Cruise's portrayal of the volatile studio executive Les Grossman may have been a supporting role, but it left an indelible mark on audiences worldwide.
The character's explosive temper, crude language, and ruthless business tactics struck such a chord that plans for a dedicated film were announced just two years after the original's release. While that project seemed to vanish into development limbo, recent comments suggest it's far from dead.
Writer Confirms Project Remains Active
Co-writer Justin Theroux recently broke his silence about the long-dormant project during a candid interview. His revelations suggest the spinoff has experienced multiple attempts at getting off the ground over the years.
"This has been something that has been kicked around in theory and in reality, and there's been a couple of attempts at points of entry. But I think we all look forward to hopefully making that happen," Theroux explained.
The writer went on to reveal he's developed concrete ideas for the project, though he remained tight-lipped about specifics. "That would be great, and I have some ideas for it, and some of those ideas have been expressed, but I can't really give you any other update that there's nothing currently. There's no start date or anything."
Mission: Impossible Director Joins Forces
Reports from 2022 indicated that Cruise had enlisted Christopher McQuarrie, his frequent collaborator from the Mission: Impossible franchise, to potentially helm the project. McQuarrie's involvement adds significant weight to the spinoff's prospects, given his successful track record with the action star.
The director has worked alongside Cruise on multiple blockbusters, including Jack Reacher and Edge of Tomorrow, establishing a creative partnership that has proven both commercially and critically successful. With McQuarrie recently wrapping up his work on Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the timing could be ideal for tackling this long-awaited project.
Perfect Timing for Hollywood Satire
The entertainment landscape has transformed dramatically since 2008, with streaming platforms reshaping how content is created and consumed. The rise of Netflix, potential industry consolidations, and shifting audience sensibilities have created new targets for the kind of sharp industry satire that made the original character so memorable.
Les Grossman's brutal honesty about Hollywood's inner workings resonated with audiences who rarely got such an unfiltered look behind the scenes. Today's entertainment industry, with its streaming wars and corporate machinations, offers even richer material for the character's trademark cynicism and explosive commentary.