Whether it’s performing death-defying stunts for Mission Impossible or taking the pilot seat for Top Gun: Maverick, Tom Cruise has done it all throughout his career. The actor is popularly known for taking extreme measures for the action sequences in his movies. Apart from his glam life under the spotlight as one of the biggest action stars in Hollywood, Cruise has also been in conversation about his ties with the Church of Scientology.
He has been a Scientologist for a long time. While the Mission Impossible star is believed to have gained so much with the help of the organization, it doesn’t seem to be the case with everyone attached to it. Actor John Travolta, also a member of the Church, nearly doomed his career after starring in a movie based on the novel of the Scientology founder.
Tom Cruise’s Fellow Scientologist Almost Ruined His Career
Despite not having worked together, Tom Cruise and John Travolta are reported to share a good friendship. While the two reportedly do not have the same relationship anymore, there is still one common link between them. Both of them have been devoted members of the Church of Scientology.
Travolta, however, even went on to star in a movie based on a novel by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000. After receiving a signed copy from Hubbard, the actor made it his passion project to work on a film adaptation of the book.
However, no major studio was interested in working on the adaptation due to its ties to Scientology. After facing several rejections, the 69-year-old actor decided to invest in the movie himself. Not only did he put his money into the project, but he also had to cut down his paycheck. The film titled Battlefield Earth was eventually made and released with plans for a sequel.
However, contrary to his expectations, it turned out to be one of the worst films ever made. The movie grossed only $29.7 million at the box office against a budget of $73 million. Seeing its performance at the box office, the plans for any follow-up sequels were canceled.
Tom Cruise And John Travolta Alleged Rivalry
Long before Tom Cruise became one of the most recognized members of the Church of Scientology, John Travolta was allegedly the first to speak up about the religion. The actor has been a member of the organization since 1975. However, things changed for him after the Jack Reacher star joined the Church.
The organization awarded him with the Freedom Medal of Valor to Cruise. And Travolta was not too pleased with this decision. He reportedly wrote a letter to the Scientology leader David Miscavige. To add to Travolta’s despise, Miscavige went on to describe Cruise as the “best Scientologist he knew.”
As things progressed, Cruise continued to move up in the Scientology lineup, leading the Grease actor to grow “jealous” of his fellow Scientologist. A former guard for the Church, Brendan Tighe, even claimed that they “despised each other,” and it was the reason Travolta wasn’t invited to Cruise and Kidman’s wedding.
He also revealed that despite Cruise’s high rank at the Church, the Battlefield Earth star never considered him superior. “So it was like getting his title stripped; he was jealous,” the former guard explained. While the Top Gun star continues to be a part of the church, Travolta has reportedly distanced himself from the organization in the wake of his wife’s passing in 2020.
Source: Collider
