Famed director Cameron Crowe sees Tom Cruise taking an unexpected new path in his future projects.
In an interview with The New York Times, the “Almost Famous” director got to talking about where he sees Cruise’s careers headed next — having worked with the actor on projects like “Vanilla Sky” and “Jerry Maguire” — and it had nothing to do with action movies.
“I see that there’s a time coming, it might have already started, where he’s going to segue into character roles as strongly as he segued into action movies…at the highest of quality circumstances,” Crowe said, referring to Cruise’s next chapter as the “Paul Newman character phase.”
Related: Tom Cruise Breaks Down His ‘Mission: Impossible’ Subterranean Jeep Chase in New Behind-the-Scenes Clip (Exclusive)
The director — who also directed “Almost Famous” — may have a point as Cruise’s “Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning” has been coined, though unconfirmed, as the end of the iconic movie series.
“I think [that] will fry people’s minds in a way,” he added. “I think what Tom does is become an absolute student in whatever he’s attaching himself to. Of course he’s going to have the best stunts, of course he’s going to have done the work to do this and that, when that Paul Newman phase stars he’s going to apply the same type of passion to it its going to be amazing.”
Cameron Crowe Movies Starring Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise and Cameron Crowe on the set of “Vanilla Sky” in 2000. Mario Magnani/Getty Images
Crowe worked with Cruise on “Jerry Maguire” in 1996 and “Vanilla Sky” in 2001. Coincidentally, 1996 was the same year that Cruise starred in the first “Mission Impossible” film which skyrocketed him into the action film category.
“Thats the career to watch,” Crowe added of Cruise. “When everything melts away and becomes simple statements of what happened in a time in history, you’re going to read Tom Cruise’s name.”
Explaining further, Crowe elaborated saying that actors can solidify their careers in history with diversified and intentional roles.
“It really what happens when a seasoned actor starts doing characters, when every little piece of business is fascinating and soul scratching,” he said. “I hope i get to make another movie with Tom, I would love to be a part of that phase.”
This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 15, 2025, where it first appeared in the Celebs section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
