Michael Cera Recalls Getting Schooled By Tom Cruise During Their First Meeting
may be one of Hollywood's most unassuming stars, but even he couldn't avoid a classic moment during their very first meeting.
During an appearance on "The Louis Theroux Podcast," the "Arrested Development" alum revealed that he was scolded by the "Mission: Impossible" star while working together on a sketch for the MTV Movie Awards.
The project featured Tom Cruise reprising his outrageous "Tropic Thunder" character, Les Grossman, in a series of pre-taped segments.
"It was surreal to work with Tom Cruise," Cera said. "It was fascinating. Tom runs the set. I was there for like five minutes, but what I observed was, he was like the first AD on the set. He was such a leader."
But things got off to an unexpected start when Michael Cera chatted with a writer during filming, something Cruise didn't take lightly.
"They were in the middle of a take, and I was talking to the writer, just kind of mumbling. Tom Cruise looks at me, I've never met him before, and he goes, 'Is that Michael Cera talking during a f-cking take?'" Cera recalled.
While the comment came across as intense, Cera insists Cruise was mostly joking… kind of.
"I think he was joking. But it was also like, do shut up, you know?" he laughed. "I was like, 'Hey man, it wasn't me, it was the writer.' He said, 'I'm kidding, I'm kidding.'"
Cera, ever the good sport, chalked it up to a surreal Hollywood moment with a superstar known for his commanding on-set presence.
"It's surreal to meet Tom Cruise," he added. "He was very friendly."
The actor's recollection came as part of a larger conversation about Scientology, though Cera was quick to clarify that he's had no personal exposure to the belief system. "I'm sure I will be treated to some after this discussion," he joked.
Theroux reassured him, saying he hadn't said anything offensive. "Oh, I'm not picking a fight," Cera laughed.
In the same interview, Michael Cera also dropped a bombshell of his own, he once walked away from a potential role in the "Harry Potter" spinoff franchise "Fantastic Beasts" out of fear that it would make him too famous.
"I don't even know if I was offered, I think I just declined to engage with it because I think it would be like probably a six-year commitment or something," Cera admitted. "But also, I did sort of make a conscientious choice to limit my exposure a little bit, or just try and be a little more in control of it."
He explained that the tone of the films especially influenced his decision. "I had a big fear of doing things that I would get too famous," he said, noting that children's movies especially posed that risk.
The "Fantastic Beasts" films, prequels to the "Harry Potter" saga, follow magical creature expert Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) as he's drawn into a battle against dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald.
Though author J.K. Rowling initially envisioned five installments, the future of the franchise remains unclear. These days, however, Michael Cera is more open to the idea of joining a big franchise.
"I think I've outgrown that particular feeling," he said. "But if a franchise came along now and seemed interesting, I don't think on the grounds of it being a franchise I would storm out of the office or anything."
Following Michael Cera's retelling, fans took to social media to share their thoughts, and, unsurprisingly, opinions were mixed.
"I've heard nothing but good things about Tom Cruise. Have a few friends that met him and they said he was so nice and kind. Sad that he's in a cult," one user wrote.
Another wasn't quite so charitable toward Cera, "Cera is a triple Z-list no-talent actor at best."
Meanwhile, some defended Cruise's reaction, noting the moment may have fit his character: "Yelling at Cera while playing the obnoxious Les Grossman sounds on point."
Still, others aimed at Cruise's polarizing reputation, "Probably the single most dislikable person on the planet... and it's not even close," one commenter wrote.
Another added, "Michael, you will find cult members are like that. It is the delusion they carry."
Though the moment with Cruise was brief, it clearly left a lasting impression on the "Superbad" star, along with a pretty great Hollywood story to tell.
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