Criticism of Tom Cruise stirs Hollywood debate

Actor Tom Cruise rides a motorcycle up West Street in New York City as he arrives for a special screening of his new film "Mission Impossible III" at the Tribecca Film festival May 3, 2006. Cruise was making a wirlwind tour of New York City on Wednesday to attend several screenings and a premier of the film. REUTERS/Mike Segar

A day after one of Hollywood's most powerful men publicly scolded actor Tom Cruise, the film capital began to think cost-conscious studios may finally be fed up with giving stars the star treatment.

But some industry insiders believe Viacom Inc. Chairman Sumner Redstone's rebuke of Cruise was more a sign that a great money-making career was on the wane.

In few other places on Earth are stars pampered the way they are in Hollywood. Jewelers want to loan them diamonds, developers want to give them houses, and studios want to cater to their every whim.

Few actors besides Cruise have been held in such high regard in Hollywood. But his last film, "Mission: Impossible III," while raking in close to $400 million worldwide, did not do as well as hoped. And, in Hollywood, you are often only as good as your last picture.

Redstone said a key reason Viacom's film studio, Paramount Pictures, did not renew its deal with the actor was his off-screen behavior.

Redstone told the Wall Street Journal: "He's a terrific actor. But we don't think someone who effectuates creative suicide and costs the company revenue should be on the lot."

Cruise raised eyebrows with several publicity gaffes in the past year, including his couch-hopping appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," his outspoken espousal of Scientology and denunciations of psychiatry.

To some, Redstone's comments signal a major change in Hollywood.

"There is a definitive, palpable change in climate," one source at a major Hollywood talent agency said.

"Stars' demands have gotten so over-the-top, and they've gotten so petulant. And the studios, because they're part of publicly traded companies, have to maintain quarterly results, I do think they are less intimidated by the stars," he said.