Paramount severs ties with Cruise

[Alex]

As an aside on the financial issues, Paramount is in a fair bit of trouble. They recently overpaid for Dreamworks and the reason they were willing to do so is because their inhouse development had almost completely halted and the slate of films under development by Spielberg and company provides nice cover for that. Almost every film released by Paramount in the next 18 months will be one developed by SKG and not Paramount.

Simply put, I wonder if Paramount is in a position that it can afford Cruise. If Cruise is willing to cut his price for whatever he wants to do next I have no doubt Paramount would be more than happy to continue working with him. Polls may show his popularity dropped but M:I:III still made $400 million worlwide and will make another $150-$200 million in the secondary markets. His film before that made almost $600 million.

Mr. Cruise isn't going to have any problem finding work and he'll probably still get it on his terms.