Tom Cruise’s Hidden Movie Contract Clause Has Ignited a Huge Debate Amid the SAG-AFTRA Strike

Delilah Gray
·3 min read
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Have you ever wondered why there hasn’t been any official Mission Impossible video game with Tom Cruise? Or why you typically don’t see his face on merch? Well, it’s thanks to his contracts.

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According to LadBible via News International, Cruise reportedly has a secret clause in all of his film contracts that read, “The actor’s likeness cannot be used to create any merchandise.” And he’s had this for literal years (just like Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s and Uma Thurman)!

Because of this, his face can’t be legally used on any likeness that’s not the film, so that’s why his image wasn’t used in the Mission: Impossible III and War of the Worlds PlayStation games.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONE, (aka MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 7), from left: Hayley Atwell, Tom Cruise, 2023. ph: © Paramount Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONE, (aka MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 7), from left: Hayley Atwell, Tom Cruise, 2023. ph: © Paramount Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection

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Now, like we said, he’s had this for years, and long before the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strikes have taken place.

While the strike has been fighting for lots of different rights, one of the biggest points of contention is the fight against AI in film. The strike has been against Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), specifically to find a compromise in making regulations in AI when it comes to using actor’s faces.

While Cruise reportedly wanted to promote his move during the strikes, The Hollywood Reporter did reveal that he lobbied for AMPTP to hear out SAG-AFTRA’s concerns on AI.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JULY 14: Members of the Hollywood actors SAG-AFTRA union walk a picket line with screenwriters outside of FOX Studios on Day 2 of the actors’ strike on July 14, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Members of SAG-AFTRA, Hollywood’s largest union which represents actors and other media professionals, joined striking WGA (Writers Guild of America) workers in the first joint walkout against the studios since 1960. The strike could shut down Hollywood productions completely with writers in the third month of their strike against the Hollywood studios. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

Now, this resurfaced detail about his contract has been a part of a months-long debate on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter. Quite a few people have sided with Cruise and his unique contract clause.

“Kinda gotta hand it to Tom Cruise for completely refusing to ever surrender over his own likeness, got ahead of the AI thing. Say what ya will about him but he treats himself like he’s the brand, won’t let his name be bought and sold and replicated,” one X user said.

Another wrote: “I will serve on the side of Tom cruise in the war vs ai.”

However, many called out Cruise’s connections to Scientology and how he already basically sold his likeness to the controversial Church since he’s considered the “face” of it. Many X users wrote about this, with the most popular being one X user’s musings reading: “Sorry “won’t let his name be bought and sold” for the public face of a cult is funny.”

Before you go, click here to see all the celebrities who supported the SAG-AFTRA & WGA strikes.

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