Warner Bros. has struggled to beat Disney in the CBM genre, with Marvel Studios boasting the most popular superheroes of the last decade. However, the production company has now sealed a deal to rope in perhaps the most popular superstar in the industry, Tom Cruise.
The action icon has signed a new deal to develop and produce original and franchise theatrical films with the production company in 2024. As part of this new “strategic partnership”, Cruise and his own company will have offices on the Warner Bros. Discovery lot in Burbank. This deal seems to also have the potential to break Tom Cruise’s previous salary record.
Read more: Tom Cruise Officially Jumps Ship from Paramount after 30 Years and it’s Breaking the Internet
Tom Cruise’s Highest-Ever Salary Came From a Surprising Movie
The portrayal of Pete Mitchell in Top Gun in 1986 raised Tom Cruise to stardom, as his ‘maverick’ fighter pilot left Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Blackwood and moviegoers in awe with his sleek personality. After that, Cruise also started to attract very lucrative offers for his appearances.
Then followed Mission: Impossible. As IMF agent Ethan Hunt, Cruise quickly established himself as the biggest action star of his generation by doing his stunts on his own – be it climbing the Burj Khalifa or hanging from a plane.
Needless to say, the success of the franchise has also been reflected in his paychecks. According to reports, the ageless star has taken home more than $70 million for all of the Mission: Impossible movies he has ever made.
As per Celebrity Net Worth, he was paid $100 million for Mission: Impossible II. Since, the 61-year-old has worked as a producer on all his MI movies, part of his earnings have also come from that role.
However, Cruise also bagged $100 million for the 2005 sci-fi action War of the Worlds.
In the Steven Spielberg-directed film, he didn’t have to ride a motorcycle off a cliff either. Instead, his character, Ray Ferrier, faces aliens to save his children.
Tom Cruise Had a Chance to Make Millions as MCU Lead
The success of Disney-owned franchise, Marvel Cinematic Universe, has allowed Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr., to compete with the likes of Cruise when it comes to taking home eye-watering paychecks.
Interestingly, Cruise had the opportunity to earn big bucks from the MCU as well. Before Downey Jr. assumed the role of Tony Stark and made it his own through his charming performances, the studio was more interested in bringing Cruise to the superhero world. In a 2005 interview (via Far Out Magazine), the actor revealed he turned down the role as he wasn’t certain it was gonna work.
In 2006, Jon Favreau joined the franchise to direct Iron Man and as soon as he saw Downey Jr.’s screen test, he knew he had found his man.
