Tom Cruise is reportedly “very serious” about developing a spin-off of Tropic Thunder focusing on his character, Les Grossman.
This fan-favorite character first appeared in the 2008 comedy alongside stars such as Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr. The film follows a group of actors whose attempts to shoot a war movie in the jungle take a chaotic turn. Cruise portrayed the outrageous producer Grossman, known for his fiery temperament, oversized hands, and a memorable dance scene.
According to Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning director Christopher McQuarrie, there’s potential for a Les Grossman film. On the Happy Sad Confused podcast hosted by Josh Horowitz, McQuarrie shared insights from working with Cruise on the final Mission: Impossible installment. He noted they often brainstormed about how a Grossman movie might unfold.
“The conversations we’ve had about Les Grossman are incredibly funny,” he said. “Tom and I are having serious discussions about it and how to bring it to life. It all comes down to defining the character.”
Their talks about a Tropic Thunder spin-off became a source of relaxation during the making of Final Reckoning. “We don’t even dwell on the structure; we just throw around ideas,” he explained. “Just being able to sit at a breakfast table and not talk about our current project for a moment was a great way to decompress.”
While a new project featuring Les Grossman is on the horizon, Ben Stiller reflective back on Tropic Thunder, expressing doubts about whether the film could be made today. “I doubt it,” he remarked, highlighting the current challenges of creating edgier comedy in today’s environment.
One particularly controversial aspect of the film involves Downey Jr.’s character, Kirk Lazarus, an Australian method actor who undergoes “pigmentation alteration” surgery for his role as an African-American sergeant.
Earlier this year, Downey Jr. defended the portrayal, stating it aimed to critique stereotypes that were problematic.
As for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the film grossed $63 million during its opening weekend, marking the series’ best performance to date. It received a four-star review from NME, which praised its blend of action, fan-favorite characters, and unexpected highlights, leaving audiences thrilled, whether this marks the franchise’s conclusion or not.
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