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Well after this week’s MTV Movie Awards, in which Tom Cruise reprised his TROPIC THUNDER role of mega movie producer Les Grossman, there were quickly rumors that the character might be getting his own flick. It all started when E! Online reported that in a backstage interview at the award show, Tom Cruise was quoted to say “We’re working on it… yup, we’re working on it.” And now it looks like it’s official. SlashFilm posted some quotes (I’m guessing that come direct from Paramount) today, which read as follows:
HOLLYWOOD, CA (June 9, 2010) – Paramount Pictures and MTV Films announced today that they are set to develop a movie around mega-producer Les Grossman. The announcement comes on the heels of Grossman’s groundbreaking and visionary production of the soon-to-be Emmy® award-winning 2010 MTV Movie Awards Sunday night. Tom Cruise, along with Ben Stiller and Stuart Cornfeld of Red Hour Films will produce and have secured the life rights to Grossman.
Grossman, best known as a mega producer, has most recently mentored talents such as Rob Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. In 2008, Grossman was introduced to the masses by Stiller in the comedy “Tropic Thunder” where the famed producer had a cameo playing himself.
Said Ben Stiller: “Les Grossman’s life story is an inspiring tale of the classic human struggle to achieve greatness against all odds. He has assured me he plans to quote, ‘F**king kill the sh*t out of this movie and make Citizen f**king Kane look like a piece of crap home movie by the time we are done.’ I am honored to be working with him.”
When asked what the screenplay was about Grossman responded: “To quote my great friend Kirk Lazarus, ‘I don’t read the script, the script reads me.’”
Adam Goodman, Paramount Film Group President said, “Everything I learned in this business, I’ve learned from Les. I started out as his assistant, and from the first day he threw his desk at me when I got his lunch order wrong, I have loved him like a father. I am forever grateful to Ben and Stuart Cornfeld and their ability to secure his highly-coveted life rights,”
Tom Cruise is said to be in talks to portray Grossman in the film.
Michael Bacall (“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”) will write the script.
If you missed the MTV Movie Awards, you’ll have more chances to see it, as MTV reruns those types of shows several times after their initial airing. During it, Cruise played Les Grossman in an intro skit, and even came out on stage and danced (impressively) with Jennifer Lopez. He obviously enjoys playing this Joel Silver-esque character, and chances are he’ll be officially signed in in no time. Now the question is, do we really need a Les Grossman movie? Granted, the character is funny in small doses, but can you imagine two hours of Les? To me, at least with this character, less is more. The appearances in TROPIC THUNDER were done in just the right amounts. To push it could be risky business… ugh, I know, that was a terrible pun. Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
In the meantime, check out the uncensored commercial for the MTV Movie Awards, featuring THE TWILIGHT SAGA star Robert Pattinson getting advice from Les Grossman.
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
