Filmstalker: Stiller wants Cruise for The Hardy Men

The idea of Tom Cruise and Ben Stiller appearing in a film together is a stretch, but Stiller is pushing to try and get it to happen for a second time.

His first attempt was for a film called Topic Thunder which followed the same story as Galaxy Quest and Three Amigos, a bunch of actors get mistaken for really doing what they pretend do and are sucked into doing it, only to find they are awful and flee, but then have a change of heart and come back and save the day. Same story, different settings, Stiller's one was to be in the jungle with actors playing mercenaries.

Reports are that Cruise turned it down because it would make too much fun of him. I would think he might just have turned it down because it's the same film that's been seen a few times before, and it's been done superbly before.

Now, according to TMZ.com through IGN, Stiller is trying for a film based on The Hardy Boys detective stories called The Hardy Men. This would feature those teenage detectives as adults.

Sounds like there might be a little bit of interest, although it would still be a stretch to see Cruise act with Stiller, but here's the clincher why I can't see it working. Stiller wants Shawn Levy to direct. Levy of Night at the Museum, The Pink Panther remake and Cheaper by the Dozen. Directing Cruise? I'm not so sure he would go for that one are you?

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Although I agree with you that it's very unlikely that Cruise will agree to this project, it would be very interesting though and quite a change if he did. Can Stiller not get another director though? Again no offense to Levy.

Posted by: Simone | February 6, 2007 9:51 PM

Stiller is running out of roles. Well, to be fair he ran out a while ago.

Don't get me wrong, i think that some of his stuffis very good, but its starting to get very repetetive(a.k.a Jim Carey). He needs to try and do something a little different and yes maybe less profitable.

Cruise is not able to stretch his "acting" to anything other than action blockbuster with the red carpet opening nights, shouting shouting "yeah" "yeah"

Posted by: pablo | February 7, 2007 1:13 AM

Cruise is not able to stretch his "acting" to anything other than action blockbuster

I beg to differ with you pablo but it seems that you have not seen Cruise's other roles outside the action blockbusters, and allow me to make some recommendations and you can see the real stuff this actor made of.

Collateral
Magnolia
The Last Samurai
Jerry Maguire
Born on the Fourth of July

Posted by: Simone | February 7, 2007 6:33 PM

No offense Simone, but I agree with Pablo.

From your list I will give you Born on the 4th of July, Cruise did give a better performance than usual with that one, from what I remember.

However the others...I can't agree with.
I found him boring in Collateral.
Magnolia and Jerry Maguire where his revised "Top Gun/Maverick" hot shot performances.

Last Samuari - I didn't believe him for a minute.

I've never been a Cruise fan, but there are movies he's been in that I have enjoyed. Still I find him a medicore actor surrounded by a lot of hype. In my opinion, he has shown some growth from his Risky Business years and does his best when he's playing the action star.

Posted by: Meli | February 8, 2007 9:57 PM

I think he can be a great actor when he's pushed, and when he's not he reverts to the Hollywood Cruise. It's definitely a shame, but the persona of Cruise does blank out some of his performances and you really have to walk into the cinema and be able to forget who he is.

Interestingly, although it's not a great performance, this was something I felt happen in War of the Worlds quite early on in the film. Saw Cruise straight away, and within a few scenes that faded to nothing.

Posted by: Richard Brunton | February 9, 2007 7:28 AM

None taken Meli. ;) Although saying that he is a mediocre actor, that I have to completely disagree with you. We might as well agree to disagree when it comes to Cruise.

Richard mentioned a good point as to why Cruise is not taken seriously as an actor or that his persona is somehow eclipsing that greatness, but I guess because I am able to take away that perception of Cruise as a Hollywood star and look at his every single performance, I always find something different from his roles. I suppose I also admire his work ethic where he truly immenses himself in his roles.

I forgot to mention how I also loved him in Interview with the Vampire.

Posted by: Simone | February 9, 2007 11:12 AM