Latest news with #HappySadConfused
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie Are Having ‘Serious Conversations' About a ‘Tropic Thunder' Spinoff
Though still in the thick of promoting 'Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning,' writer/director Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise are already working on their next pair-up — it just might not be what you expect. 'The conversations we've had about Les Grossman are so fucking funny,' McQuarrie said in a recent interview with Josh Horowitz on his 'Happy Sad Confused' podcast. More from IndieWire 'Mission: Impossible': Director Christopher McQuarrie Climbed Onto the Wing of a 140-mph Plane Himself All 8 'Mission: Impossible' Movies, Ranked Worst to Best Cruise played the fictional Hollywood power player in the 2008 satire 'Tropic Thunder' from director Ben Stiller. Heavily modeled on Scott Rudin, Grossman is a Diet Coke-swilling, obscenity-prone producer with no filter and tendencies toward anger, as well as dance. It may sound silly to center an entire film around him, but McQuarrie and Cruise are actively looking for a way in. 'We're having serious conversations about it and how best to do it,' McQuarrie said. 'It ultimately comes down to what that character is.' The big question remains whether people will want to watch a film with Grossman as the lead character. McQuarrie explained that the 'leading man' status Cruise holds makes it difficult to place him in roles that are so monstrous. Even with 'Magnolia,' which earned Cruise an Academy Award nomination, the actor was part of a very large ensemble, making it easier for him not to have to carry the whole film. 'Ethan Hunt, a character of whom people can be critical, is on rails,' said McQuarrie. 'There's so little he is able to do outside of his responsibilities as a leading man and when you try and push those boundaries, 'Mission' instantaneously cease to become 'Mission.'' Right now, McQuarrie and Cruise are not trying to figure out a plot to drop Grossman into as much as they're thinking of specific scenes they'd like to see him play. Moreover, discussing ideas around this character has offered a welcome reprieve from their other responsibilities, particularly on 'The Final Reckoning.' 'Just to be sitting at the breakfast table, not talking about the movie we're making for a minute,' McQuarrie told Horowitz, 'is such decompression. And just riffing with Tom, playing to Les Grossman — it was one of the real joys of making this movie.' In addition to this possible 'Tropic Thunder' spinoff, McQuarrie and Cruise are also working on a number of other ideas, including a 'Days of Thunder' sequel, another installment in the 'Top Gun' franchise, and a musical. Watch McQuarrie's full interview on 'Happy Sad Confused' below. 'Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning' is currently in theaters from Paramount Pictures. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie The 55 Best LGBTQ Movies and TV Shows Streaming on Netflix Right Now
News18
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Mission: Impossible Director Hints At Les Grossman Spin-Off With Tom Cruise
Last Updated: Mission: Impossible- The Final Reckoning, Christopher McQuarrie, hinted that a Tropic Thunder spin-off featuring Tom Cruise's Les Grossman could happen. Fans of the 2008 comedy Tropic Thunder may be in for a treat. Christopher McQuarrie, director of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, hinted at a possible spin-off starring Tom Cruise's character, Les Grossman. McQuarrie revealed that he and Cruise had 'serious conversations" about creating a film centred entirely on the wild and unforgettable Grossman. During the shoot of The Final Reckoning, they brainstormed ideas on how to bring the character back freshly and excitingly. The director described these discussions as both hilarious and thrilling as they worked to craft the perfect story for Grossman's return. While appearing on Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast, the filmmaker said, 'Everything will in one way or another happen. It will not necessarily happen in the time or place you think it will. They're all things we're talking about. We have ideas about the conversations we've had about Les Grossman are so funny. I mean, we're talking about it, man. We're having very serious conversations about it and how best to do it and where you know what it ultimately comes to down to what that character is." 'You hit the nail right on the head that I was going to a leading man, Tom Cruise will tell you a leading man has different responsibilities. Tom is just to be sitting at a breakfast table, not talking about the movie we're making for a minute is such decompression, right? And just riffing with Tom playing to Les Grossman at the table was one of the real joys of making this movie. It was all the stuff we were doing, planning the future, while slugging out the present," Christopher McQuarrie added. Fans of Tropic Thunder will instantly recognise Les Grossman—the loud, bald, and fiery movie producer with a short fuse and a larger-than-life personality. One of his most memorable scenes is a video call with the film crew after a disastrous shoot, where he famously orders a crew member to punch the director (played by Steve Coogan) in the face. Another iconic moment fans love is when Grossman breaks into an unexpected, hilarious dance to Ludacris's 'Get Back." Other than Cruise, the 2008 movie also features Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Jay Baruchel and Brandon T. Jackson. First Published:
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mission: Impossible 8 Director on Why Rebecca Ferguson's Ilsa Doesn't Return
Christopher McQuarrie has explained why Mission: Impossible 8 did not bring back Rebecca Ferguson's Ilsa Faust, addressing fan reactions following her death in the previous film. He emphasized the importance of permanent consequences in the franchise's storytelling. McQuarrie also discussed how this decision supports the series' emotional impact and realism. Rebecca Ferguson's character, Ilsa Faust, does not return in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning following her death in Dead Reckoning. Despite fan backlash and theories suggesting she might have survived. Director Christopher McQuarrie has confirmed her death is permanent. Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, McQuarrie said, 'The death of essential characters has followed Ethan throughout every one of these movies. I don't think up until that point a character that resonated so deeply with the audience had died… that wouldn't motivate me to undo the one thing that gives Mission: Impossible teeth, which is death is permanent.' He emphasized that undoing her death would weaken the franchise's emotional stakes and credibility. Fan theories suggested that Ilsa faked her death as part of a plan against the Entity, supported by Ethan's earlier instructions and symbolic cues from the title Dead Reckoning. Some pointed to Biblical allusions and narrative gaps as signs that she might reappear. However, McQuarrie dismissed these speculations following the film's release. Since Dead Reckoning premiered in 2023, McQuarrie has repeatedly addressed the issue, stating that Ilsa's death serves a narrative purpose and that they will not reverse it. Now that The Final Reckoning is in theaters, the creative team confirms Ilsa's absence to maintain continuity and emotional weight. The eighth installment, written by McQuarrie and Erik Jendresen, sees Ethan Hunt and his IMF team confronting the AI known as the Entity. While several returning characters appear in The Final Reckoning, Ferguson's Ilsa is notably absent due to the story's commitment to realistic consequences. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning released on May 23, 2025, with a runtime of 170 minutes. It is directed by Christopher McQuarrie, who previously directed several entries in the franchise. The post Mission: Impossible 8 Director on Why Rebecca Ferguson's Ilsa Doesn't Return appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why Tom Cruise Really Screamed at Mission: Impossible 7 Crew
Ever since the leaked audio of outburst on the sets of went viral, fans have been divided on the veteran actor blatantly yelling at his crew. However, a whopping five years after the clip made its way onto the internet, director Christopher McQuarrie has come out to provide context to the situation, all the while defending his lead actor's actions. In a recent discussion, the veteran director noted the reason behind the Top Gun actor's explosive reaction in the leaked audio. It was due to some of the Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One crew members constantly breaking social distancing rules on set, despite the severity of the rapidly spreading coronavirus at the time. While recently speaking with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Christopher McQuarrie provided insight into the arduous process of filming two movies against the backdrop of the COVID-19 outbreak. He shared, '[When you] factor in a pandemic and two industry strikes, what should have been a two and a half year process for both movies stretched onto seven years. The Jack Reacher director then revealed that Tom Cruise was actually addressing only five people in the leaked audio. He then explained how 'two of the people there were people who had been specifically tasked with the health and safety of our crew and had repeatedly not lived up to that responsibility.' Additionally, Cruise's outburst came after 30 minutes of trying to get his point across regarding the importance of meeting the required health protocols on a project that had already consumed a significant amount of time and money. 'The person who is raising his voice is quite literally going to work every day and risking his life for a very expressed purpose of keeping the industry alive,' McQuarrie added. He further backed Tom Cruise's way of handling things in the leaked audio. McQuarrie stated, 'That was not a guy pissed off because his latte was cold… He was on the phone every night fighting the good fight to keep things going, to keep things alive. I watched him will that into existence.' Originally reported by Apoorv Rastogi on The post Why Tom Cruise Really Screamed at Mission: Impossible 7 Crew appeared first on Mandatory.
Geek Tyrant
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
TOP GUN 3 Co-Writer Gives Exciting Update on the Sequel's Story Progress — GeekTyrant
Tom Cruise is still at the top of his game. With franchises like Mission: Impossible and Top Gun still cranking out hits, it's no wonder the action star and stunt master is headed for another sequel. The 2022 film Top Gun: Maverick was the first post-pandemic hit that signaled to fans, theatres and studios that the movie-going experience may just be saved. It got us back into theatres, and gave us such a great time that no one was shocked at the announcement at a third film. While we don't have any word on when the movie will go into production or be released, we do have a fun update for fans. Longtime friend and collaborator of Tom Cruise writer/director Christopher McQuarrie sat down to chat on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, and McQuarrie was asked if ' Top Gun 3 is harder to crack in some ways than Top Gun: Maverick ,' and the filmmaker responded: 'No, it's already in the bag. I already know what it is. It wasn't hard. I thought it would be. And that's a good place to go from, you walk in the room and go 'Come on, what are we going to do?' And Ehren Kruger pitched something, and I went 'Hmmm, actually…' And we had one conversation about it, and the framework is there. So no, it's not hard to crack.' So an outline is in the books, and that's a good sign. At least we can bank on the fact that the third film won't take as long as the second movie did. Stay tuned for more updates on Top Gun 3 as we inch closer to its release.
