Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie have been in deep discussions about bringing Les Grossman, the wild and unhinged Hollywood mogul from Tropic Thunder, back to the big screen.
McQuarrie shared the exciting news on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, revealing that the duo, known for their successful collaboration on the Mission: Impossible franchise, are now setting their sights on a standalone Grossman movie. According to McQuarrie, the conversations surrounding the project have been filled with laughs, but they’re also "very serious" about making it happen.
Cruise’s portrayal of the foul-mouthed, egotistical studio head in Tropic Thunder was a major surprise, with his larger-than-life character stealing nearly every scene. Under heavy prosthetics, Grossman became a hilarious and cringe-worthy embodiment of Hollywood’s excesses. However, turning this brief, chaotic sidekick into a lead presents challenges.
While Grossman was a standout in Tropic Thunder, his role was designed as a quick burst of energy. For a feature film to succeed, the character needs more depth or a compelling story to avoid becoming a one-note gag. Despite the challenge, Cruise and McQuarrie believe they can make Grossman’s outrageous energy work for an entire movie.
It’s clear that the duo has high hopes for the project, but whether they can successfully expand Grossman’s character into something that feels fresh and engaging for today’s audience remains to be seen. Whatever happens, one thing is certain: if anyone can make this wild idea work, it’s the team behind Mission: Impossible.
