John Travolta made his name after starring in Saturday Night Fever and Pulp Fiction. After portraying some iconic characters throughout the years, Travolta found enough fame to turn one of the novels into a movie.
Adapting the 1982 novel of the same name, John Travolta starred in the 2000 movie titled Battlefield Earth. The movie was a failure, is an understatement. However, the film managed to garner further controversy as the people alleged that it was Scientology propaganda!
John Travolta Wasn’t Trying To Promote Scientology
Fans of Hollywood know that veteran actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta are both members of the Church of Scientology. Gaining a cult-like status, the actors have often talked about their association with Scientology.
Also read: John Travolta’s ‘Santa Claus X Saturday Night Fever’ Ad Goes Viral Ahead of Christmas
Pulp Fiction star John Travolta, however, took it too far when he adapted the 1982 novel Battlefield Earth into a movie. With the same name as that of the novel, the movie was a disaster as it received horrendous reviews. To top it off, the movie was also alleged to be propaganda by John Travolta to make people join the Church of Scientology! (via The New York Times)
“I’ve never even dealt with or talked to the church on this,” said Travolta’s manager. “This is an action-adventure, science-fiction story. Period. The movie has nothing to do with Scientology.”
And the final cherry on the top is that the author of the 1982 novel Battlefield Earth, is written by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology! In a different statement, John Travolta clarified that the two are unrelated despite being created by the same person.
“People have asked me if there is a connection between ‘Battlefield Earth’ and Scientology.’ There is no connection. L. Ron Hubbard wrote numerous science-fiction epics, which created the same kind of excitement amid sci-fi circles as such classics as Robert Heinlein’s ‘Stranger in a Strange Land’ and Frank Herbert’s ‘Dune.’ Other than being created by the same person, the two have virtually nothing to do with one another.”
With Cruise and Travolta both being in the Church of Scientology, the two have had their differences over the years. As per an insider from the Church, John Travolta is very jealous of Cruise and his contacts in the Church of Scientology!
John Travolta Is Allegedly Jealous of Tom Cruise
It is no secret that Tom Cruise is significantly more famous and relevant than John Travolta. Brendan Tighe, a former member of the Church of Scientology revealed to New Idea that Cruise has a direct line to David Miscavige, the current leader of the Church of Scientology.
“Cruise is the only celeb with a direct line to Miscavige. Travolta didn’t have that. Travolta doesn’t get anything free, no one is giving him absurd gifts like an airplane hangar, custom-made bikes, or over-the-top favors. It’s no secret that Cruise and Travolta despised each other.”
With jealousies and alleged propaganda in the way, Travolta’s Battlefield Earth received a rating of 2.5/10 on IMDB and a meager 3% on Rotten Tomatoes. The 2000 movie is available to rent on AppleTV+ in the U.S.
