Acclaimed filmmaker Edward Zwick opened up about his experience and journey in Hollywood in his bombshell mémoire Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions. Having a great bond with Tom Cruise, Zwick even mentioned the actor numerous times in his narrative. But his greatest revelation about Cruise came during his appearance on THR podcast.
Joining The Hollywood Reporter’s It Happened in Hollywood podcast, for the show’s season five premiere, Edward Zwick recalled teaming up with Tom Cruise. Meanwhile, he noted how the actor seemingly does not like being left out in pictures. Therefore, recalling how Cruise used modern technology to fabricate an image, Zwick revealed a hilarious incident.
Edward Zwick Recalled Meeting Three A-list Directors
The Last Samurai director Edward Zwick is currently the hot topic in Hollywood, as he came up with his mémoire Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions, narrating his journey in the entertainment industry. Working and collaborating with several A-listers like Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, the filmmaker spoke about the actors and exposed a few details about them in his book.
Meanwhile, Edward Zwick appeared for an interview on The Hollywood Reporter’s It Happened in Hollywood podcast, to talk about his work and friendships. Claiming to have a great bond with Tom Cruise, the director recalled a hilarious incident surrounding the actor. Revealing how Cruise hates being left out of iconic photos, Zwick exposed the actor.
Discussing the time they were shooting The Last Samurai with Tom Cruise in Japan, Edward Zwick opened up about the process.
“We’d been in Japan for a couple of weeks — we shot at a beautiful monastery for about two weeks. Then, we came back to Warner Brothers, and we built this whole stage. And you know, word gets around when the interesting things are happening. People were going to look at this old Hollywood recreation of the [19th century Tokyo] street.”
The filmmaker noted how expense was not spared for the period epic set in Japan. Further, he mentioned how they recreated the 19th century Tokyo street, after returning to Warner Brothers. Meanwhile, Zwick claimed that Cruise was constantly being courted by acclaimed filmmakers while he made the film.
Tom Cruise Fabricated an Image to be a Part of It
Revealing how Tom Cruise, being one of the most bankable Hollywood stars, was often being followed and guided by other acclaimed filmmakers, Edward Zwick mentioned being once overwhelmed to witness three renowned directors right behind him. Zwick noted being watched by Cameron Crowe, Steven Spielberg, and David Fincher while recreating the set and shooting The Last Samurai.
“And at one point, I happen to turn around. And it’s almost like a joke — you know, there’s Cameron Crowe. There is Steven Spielberg. There’s David Fincher. And I’m sitting in my [director] chair, and they’re like, all behind me. It’s like, ‘Oh — hey.’ I didn’t want to feel too self-conscious about this. But whoa.”
Admitting how he felt overwhelmed to see three A-list directors behind him, Edward Zwick noted how they all came in to watch him and Tom Cruise work together. Revealing how he felt self-conscious throughout shooting, Zwick then mentioned taking an iconic picture with the directors.
“[They] had all come to see Tom, for various reasons, because Cameron had made a couple of movies with him. I think Fincher was going to and then didn’t, and Spielberg later did — he made War of the Worlds with him [in 2005]. The great part of the story is that the unit photographer saw us all together and said, ‘Hey, can I just take your picture?’ So there’s a picture of all of us — except Tom had been called away to do something.”
Now this is where the story gets interesting, for when Tom Cruise returned and saw the image of the directors together, he felt left out. And as mentioned earlier, Cruise doesn’t like being left out of an iconic image. Therefore, the actor utilized modern technology and photoshopped himself into the image.
“And then he heard about the picture later, and he saw it. And he said, ‘I want to be in that picture!’ So we shot Tom, and then photoshopped him into the picture.”
According to Edward Zwick, the global sensation Tom Cruise, therefore fabricated the image, to be a part of it.
