Have you ever questioned the lack of a Tom Cruise-starring official Mission Impossible video game? Or why do you rarely see his face on merchandise? Well, his contracts are to blame.
A hidden provision in each of Cruise’s film contracts, according to LadBible through News International, states that “The actor’s likeness cannot be used to create any merchandise.” And, exactly like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Uma Thurman, he has had this for years!
The PlayStation games Mission: Impossible III and War of the Worlds did not use his face because it is illegal to use his face in any resemblance that is not to the movie.
He has had this for years, as we have mentioned, and well before the SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023.
While the strike has been fighting for many other issues, the fight against artificial intelligence in movies has been one of the main causes of dispute. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) is the target of the strike, which aims to negotiate a compromise on legislation governing the use of actor faces in AI.
The Hollywood Reporter did note that Cruise fought for AMPTP to hear out SAG-AFTRA’s concerns on AI, despite the fact that he apparently wanted to promote his flick during the strikes.
This recently discovered information on his contract has been the subject of a months-long discussion on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. Many people have defended Cruise and his unusual contract provision.
Kind of must give kudos to Tom Cruise for totally refusing to ever give in over his own resemblance and foreseeing the AI problem. Whatever you may think of him, he treats himself like a brand and won’t allow his name to be purchased, sold, or copied, according to an X user.
Another person said: “I will support Tom Cruise in the war against AI.”
Although he is seen as the “face” of Scientology, many criticized Cruise for his ties to the controversial Church and how he effectively sold his likeness to it. The most well-known of the many X users who commented on this was one who wrote: “Sorry “won’t let his name be bought and sold” for the public face of a cult is funny.”