Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Tom Cruise, one of the highest-grossing Hollywood actors with a worldwide collection of $11B for his movies, has encountered only one box office bomb in his career. Years before he madeGladiator, Ridley Scott aimed to bring to life a ‘once upon a time’ story, which materialized into the 1985 filmLegend. The epic fantasy movie fell short of collecting its budget causing a loss of nearly $1M for the Studio.
The 61-year-old actor was reportedly not pleased with the outcome of the theatrical version and has since refused to talk about it. However, theMission Impossibleactor holds a favorable view of Ridley Scott’s original version and promotes the director’s cut to fans.
Also Read:“Just because I’m dead doesn’t mean I can’t be in the sequel”: Top Gun Star Mocked Tom Cruise For Not Giving Him a Call Before Shooting His $1.5 Billion Sequel
A Few Mistakes Cost The Tom Cruise Movie Big Time
InLegend,Tom Cruiseportrayed Jack, the protagonist who must save the world from the Lord of Darkness. Mia Sara, in her debut performance, starred as Princess Lili, whileTim Curryreceived critical acclaim for playing the Lord of Darkness, with special praises for his makeup. Despite these performances, the film disappointed theatrically, as audiences struggled to connect with the plot of the movie.
Ridley Scott‘s aspiration to create visual magic was challenged by the audience’s unfamiliarity with the dark fantasy genre at that time. The amalgamation of love, fantasy, and adventure themes also failed to resonate with most viewers, who went in for a more straightforward fantasy movie. AlthoughLegendhad some issues with the themes explored, the film excelled in its makeup, costumes, and artistry.
However, the production also encountered setbacks in the art department when a forest set supposed to be used in the final stages of filming was destroyed in a fire. Notably,Legendreceived Oscar and BAFTA nominations for its makeup and costumes.
Also Read:“Do exactly what I’m going to tell you”: Tom Cruise’s “Step by Step” Instructions Saved $162M Movie Co-Star from S*xual Predator Harvey Weinstein
Tom Cruise’sLegendWas Ruined After Studio Interfered In Editing
However, studio interference sealed the fate of the Tom Cruise movie. The film had undergone excessive editing to conform to commercial movie standards at the time. This resulted in the omission of crucial plot elements and created significant plot holes. In North America, Jerry Goldsmith’s original score for the film was also replaced with a composition by Tangerine Dream.
Tom Cruise was not happy about the fate of the movie but kept his disappointment under wraps. Unlike Cruise, director Ridley Scott fought for the release of the movie’s original version. Interestingly, upon the release of the Unrated Director’s Cut of the film, it gained recognition and acquired a cult classic status. The Director’s Cut also retained Goldsmith’s original score.
Also Read:Tom Cruise’s Scientologist Rival John Travolta Lost Millions After Trying to Appease Controversial Cult With $73M Movie That Almost Doomed His Career
WhileLegendis not currently available for streaming, fans can purchase the BluRay director’s cut of the movie from Amazon.
Source:ScreenRant
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3021
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
