Tom Cruise is reportedly engaged in serious discussions about developing a spin-off movie focused on Les Grossman, his memorable character from the 2008 comedy Tropic Thunder. The idea is being explored alongside his longtime collaborator, writer-director Christopher McQuarrie, who spoke about the plans on the Happy Sad Confused podcast.
McQuarrie described their conversations as both “very serious” and “hilarious,” revealing the duo’s genuine enthusiasm for expanding Grossman’s story beyond the original film. Grossman, the foul-mouthed and bald studio executive, became an unexpected fan favorite due to his distinctive, abrasive persona.
While working on their latest project, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Cruise and McQuarrie took breaks to improvise scenes involving Grossman. McQuarrie said these sessions provided a welcome creative respite from their intense action shoot.
“We didn’t even think about structure,” McQuarrie said. “We were just playing with scenes, sitting at the breakfast table, not discussing the film we were currently making. Improv with Tom as Les Grossman around the breakfast table was some of the real fun of that shoot.” He added that their work balances immediate projects with long-term planning.
Tropic Thunder, directed and co-written by Ben Stiller, follows actors filming a Vietnam War movie who end up in a real jungle conflict. Cruise’s Les Grossman, though a secondary character, left a lasting impression with his brash style and sharp humor, earning a cult following.
McQuarrie also mentioned other ongoing collaborations with Cruise, including a sequel to the 1990 film Days of Thunder and 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick. He cautioned that while multiple projects are under consideration, their timing and realization may differ from public expectations.
“Everything is a priority, and everything will happen in some way,” McQuarrie said. “It might not happen when or where you expect. These are conversations we’re having and ideas we’re exploring.”
This ongoing creative dialogue points to promising opportunities for fans hoping to see more of one of comedy’s most iconic characters.
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