NashvilleGab - Tom Cruise isn’t shy about setting boundaries, just ask Michael Cera

Working with Hollywood royalty is always a memorable experience, especially when that royalty is Tom Cruise in full character mode as the outrageous studio executive Les Grossman from Tropic Thunder.

That’s exactly what happened to Michael Cera during a brief but unforgettable encounter back in 2010 while filming a segment for the MTV Movie Awards.

What was supposed to be a quick appearance turned into a surreal, slightly intimidating, and hilarious moment Cera won’t ever forget.

A Quick Shoot Turns Into a Lasting Memory

Michael Cera was only on set for a few minutes, but that’s all it took for Tom Cruise to leave a lasting impression.

During a recent appearance on The Louis Theroux Podcast, the Superbad actor opened up about the unusual but entertaining exchange he had with Cruise, who was dressed and behaving as Les Grossman, the brash and foul-mouthed studio executive Cruise played in Tropic Thunder.

Cruise had been filming pre-recorded clips for the MTV Movie Awards, appearing in character throughout the shoot. These bits featured him interacting with a variety of actors in improvised situations.

“Tom Cruise did one where he was playing his character from ‘Tropic Thunder,’ the movie mogul guy,” Cera recalled. “So they were shooting all day these little clips of him and that character interacting with various people coming in and out, and I came in and I did a little moment with him on that.”

Tom Cruise Takes Charge

Cera was immediately struck by Cruise’s commanding presence on set. While Cruise is known for his dedication and energy, seeing him in action was a different experience.

“Tom runs the set,” Cera said. “I was really there for like five minutes, but what I observed was that he was like the first AD on the set…. I mean, he was such a leader.”

It didn’t take long for Cera to realize just how seriously Cruise takes the work, even when dressed as the absurd Les Grossman. As Cera and a writer quietly chatted off-camera during a take, Cruise broke character for just a moment to address the distraction.

“The first moment I had with him, I arrived, they were shooting, and I was talking to the writer. We were just kind of mumbling while they were shooting, but they could hear us. It was just like 40 feet away,” Cera explained.

“And Tom Cruise looks at me, I’ve never met him, and they’re in the middle of a take, and he looks, and he goes, ‘Is that Michael Cera talking during a f***ing take?’”

Even though it was clearly meant as a joke, a very Les Grossman-style joke, Cera admitted there was also a note of seriousness behind the playful jab.

“He was joking, but it was also like, ‘Do shut up,’ you know? But so surreal.”

Awkwardness Diffused with Humor

The moment could have turned tense, but Cruise knew exactly how to keep things light. Later that day, he met Cera properly and immediately brought up the earlier callout, still in full Les Grossman mode.

“Then I met him and he is like, ‘Talking during a take.’ I knew he was playing around, so I was like, ‘Hey man, it wasn’t me, it was the writer.’ He was like, ‘I’m kidding, I’m kidding.’ And I was like, ‘I’m kidding, too.’”

What started as a potentially embarrassing moment turned into a shared laugh. And for Cera, it became one of those “only in Hollywood” stories he now gets to tell.

Cruise’s Les Grossman May Return

Tom Cruise’s portrayal of Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder was more than just a side character; it became a fan favorite, complete with an epic dance routine to Ludacris’ “Get Back.”

Now, over a decade later, there’s talk of Grossman making a comeback. According to Cruise’s Mission: Impossible collaborator Christopher McQuarrie, they’ve been seriously brainstorming a possible return of the over-the-top studio exec.

“The conversations we’ve had about Les Grossman are so f***ing funny,” McQuarrie shared on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. “[Cruise and I are] talking about it, we’re having very serious conversations about it, and how best to do it. It ultimately comes down to what that character is.”

While nothing has been confirmed yet, the idea of a full-length Les Grossman movie has sparked excitement among fans who remember the original performance fondly. If it happens, it would be yet another unexpected but entertaining turn in Cruise’s already legendary career.

Final Thoughts

Michael Cera’s brief time on set may not have been a major production, but it gave him a behind-the-scenes look at one of Hollywood’s most dedicated actors, even if that actor was pretending to be one of the most ridiculous characters imaginable.

It’s not every day you get playfully scolded by Tom Cruise while he’s in full Les Grossman mode. But for Cera, it turned into a humorous and humbling moment that he’s clearly happy to laugh about now.

And with all this buzz about Les Grossman’s possible return, maybe Cera will get a second shot to share the screen with the outlandish character, hopefully without another mid-take callout.

TL;DR

Michael Cera appeared in a short segment with Tom Cruise, who was in character as Les Grossman from Tropic Thunder.
During a take, Cruise jokingly called Cera out for “talking during a f****ing take.”
Cera clarified that Cruise was joking but admitted the moment felt surreal.
Cruise later approached Cera again in character, continuing the playful banter.
Cera described Cruise as running the set like a true leader despite being in costume.
Cruise earned a Golden Globe nomination for playing Les Grossman.
He and director Christopher McQuarrie are now having serious discussions about making a Les Grossman spin-off film.

If you liked this, don’t forget to follow us for more news and stories like this one.

Tom Cruise’s New Film Put on Hold

Tom Cruise’s upcoming underwater action film Deeper has been paused by Warner Bros. due to budget disagreements. The film, directed by Doug Liman, was expected to start filming in summer 2025. It features Cruise and Ana de Armas exploring a dangerous trench in the deep sea.

The film’s production cost reached $275 million, which Warner Bros. refused to approve. They instead wanted to lower the budget to $230 million. Because of this, Cruise’s team began talks with other studios that might be willing to take on the full budget request.

The Warner Bros movie is watched by children.

[email protected]/Depositphotos

Warner Bros. Refuses Full Budget

Warner Bros. had been working with Tom Cruise on Deeper, but its leadership decided not to move forward at the current $275 million price tag. Sources say the studio is only willing to fund the project if the cost can be reduced by $45 million.

This has caused a major delay in the movie’s schedule. Warner Bros. had already spent time and money developing the project. Now, Cruise may need to start over with a different studio, which will add even more delays to the underwater action thriller.

Mactrunk/Depositphotos

Universal Pictures Enters Talks

Tom Cruise has reportedly turned to Universal Pictures after Warner Bros. paused Deeper. Universal is rumored to be open to the $275 million budget. If a deal is reached, production could restart quickly since the team had planned to begin filming in summer 2025.

Universal has worked with Cruise before, including on the 2017 film American Made. That was his last non-franchise movie before Deeper. The studio may now take a big risk on Cruise’s next original story, which involves ocean depths and a hidden danger.

Depositphotos

Underwater Plot and Cast Setup

In Deeper, Tom Cruise plays a disgraced astronaut sent on a secret mission into a new ocean trench. Ana de Armas joins him as they dive into the deep sea. During the mission, the team finds a hidden and dangerous presence below the surface.

The movie combines science fiction, mystery, and action. It’s directed by Doug Liman, who has worked with Cruise on Edge of Tomorrow. The ocean trench and the forgotten threat give the film an eerie and tense atmosphere not found in typical action films.

hayden christensen doug liman lucas foster at arrivals for jumper

everett/Depositphotos

Doug Liman Leads Direction Again

Doug Liman, who directed Edge of Tomorrow and American Made, is set to direct Deeper. He has a long working history with Tom Cruise. Liman is known for shooting on location and taking risks with big scenes. His vision for Deeper includes filming realistic underwater sequences.

His style often mixes high action with emotional depth. Liman and Cruise are expected to create a grounded yet thrilling story. However, the large budget is partly because of Liman’s plan for real underwater scenes instead of computer graphics.

Depositphotos

Pause Disrupts Studio Schedules

The budget conflict has affected more than just Cruise and the studios. Set designers, camera teams, and other crew members were already preparing for filming this summer. With the pause, these workers are now on hold or looking for other projects.

Some sets were reportedly in the early stages of construction. Delays like this can lead to increased costs later. Restarting production could mean lost time and needing to rebuild some sets or renegotiate contracts with the crew, especially if the film moves to another studio.

Polifoto/Depositphotos

Mission: Impossible’s Role in Caution

Warner Bros. may be cautious because Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning had a budget close to $290 – $400 million and earned just $566.8 million worldwide. That film, despite being part of a major franchise, didn’t make enough to ease studio concerns.

With Deeper not being part of a known franchise, it carries more financial risk. Studios often prefer investing in sequels or films with existing fans. A high-budget original story, especially one filmed underwater, is seen as risky in today’s movie market.

Director in the film studio with professional crew, shooting a movie.

Depositphotos

Cruise’s First Original Film Since 2017

Deeper would be Tom Cruise’s first movie not linked to a franchise since American Made in 2017. Since then, he has focused on established franchises like Top Gun and Mission: Impossible. This film marks a return to original storytelling for the actor.

Original films without existing fan bases often struggle to earn as much as franchise films. Cruise seems willing to take that risk. The delay makes it unclear when or if Deeper will move forward, but the actor remains committed to getting the film made.

girls with masks swim snorkeling in the sea

aleksandrbs/Depositphotos

Tom Cruise’s History With Stunts

Tom Cruise is known for doing his stunts, which have helped make his action movies unique. In Mission: Impossible – Fallout, he jumped out of a plane at 25,000 feet and flew helicopters in dangerous scenes. Cruise’s dedication adds realism to his movies.

For Deeper, he planned to shoot underwater scenes without using green screens. He previously trained for long underwater takes during Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, where he held his breath for over six minutes. His extreme stunt work pushes budget and safety standards higher.

tanka_v/Depositphotos

Ana de Armas’s Growing Career

Ana de Armas has become a major name in Hollywood. After roles in Knives Out and No Time to Die, she earned critical praise for playing Marilyn Monroe in Blonde. That film got her a Best Actress nomination at the 2023 Oscars.

Working with Tom Cruise in Deeper would be her first big action-adventure film with him. Her presence in the cast helps market the movie to international and younger audiences. Studios often choose co-stars like her to balance star power and bring new viewers.

Depositphotos

Underwater Scenes Raise Film Costs

Filming underwater requires special equipment like waterproof cameras, safety divers, and complex lighting systems. Actors need scuba or freediving training, and underwater sets must be built in tanks or natural locations. All of this adds huge costs to the production budget.

In Deeper, realistic underwater scenes are a core part of the story. That means weeks of filming in water, making it more costly than regular movie sets. These challenges are part of why the film’s budget ballooned to $275 million before filming even began

NASA sign at Kennedy Space centre, Cape Canaveral, Florida USA.

sergey.miami2you.com/Depositphotos

Liman’s Scrapped Space Movie Plans

Before working on Deeper, Doug Liman had planned to film a movie in space with Tom Cruise. That project, developed with NASA and SpaceX, was announced in 2020 but delayed due to technical and cost issues. It would have been the first movie shot in space.

That project’s delay may have influenced Deeper’s underwater direction. Both ideas show Cruise and Liman’s interest in extreme, real-world filming environments. Liman’s push for realism often results in higher costs, which studios sometimes resist without guaranteed profits.

Depositphotos

Top Gun: Maverick Set High Bar

Tom Cruise’s biggest recent hit was Top Gun: Maverick, which earned nearly $1.5 billion in 2022. The film received strong reviews and was praised for using real fighter jet footage. It became the highest-grossing movie of Cruise’s career.

After that success, Cruise hoped to keep making large-scale original films. However, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning underperformed in 2023, leading studios to hesitate on large budgets. Deeper is now caught in this shift, with studios uncertain about spending big again.

Professional Filming Pavilion with a White Cyclorama.

Depositphotos

Why Studios Prefer Franchises

Studios often prefer movies with built-in audiences, like Marvel or Fast & Furious, because they feel safer investments. New stories like Deeper don’t come with fans or merchandise deals, which makes them riskier.

When a movie costs more than $200 million, studios want to be sure it will make a profit. If it fails, the losses are huge. That’s why Warner Bros. may have stepped away from Deeper. The film’s unique setting is exciting, but it’s not a guaranteed success.

A free flight over a reef in a tropical sea.

[email protected]/Depositphotos

Underwater Thrillers Are Rare

There are only a few big underwater thrillers in Hollywood. The Abyss (1989) and Underwater (2020) are examples, but both had mixed box office results. These movies are hard to make and often cost more than they earn.

Deeper could have joined this rare group of deep-sea films. Its mix of action and sci-fi made it different, but risky. The lack of successful underwater action films in recent years may have made studios more nervous about approving such a high budget

Tom’s honored this past December—see Tom Cruise receives Navy’s top civilian honor.

viersen germany may 9 2023 closeup of warner bros

mobilinchen/Depositphotos

Warner Bros. Freezes Other Projects

Deeper isn’t the only project Warner Bros. has delayed in 2025. The studio has paused or canceled several large-budget films recently to cut expenses. Titles like Wonder Woman 3 and a planned Harry Potter reboot have faced budget scrutiny, too.

These decisions show that Warner Bros. is reviewing its entire lineup. Even with a star like Tom Cruise, the studio isn’t taking chances on expensive original stories right now. If Deeper does get made, it will likely happen with a different studio, like Universal.

Want to know why Tom’s still ruling the box office in 2025? Check out The unstoppable box office reign of Tom Cruise.

What do you think—should Cruise dive in or bail out? Drop your thoughts below!

Read More From This Brand:

Don’t forget to follow us for more exclusive content right here on MSN.

If you liked this story, you’ll LOVE our FREE emails. Join today and be the first to get stories like this one.

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

Tom Cruise isn’t shy about setting boundaries, just ask Michael Cera

A Quick Shoot Turns Into a Lasting Memory

Tom Cruise Takes Charge

Awkwardness Diffused with Humor

Cruise’s Les Grossman May Return

Final Thoughts