Tom Cruise’s Secret Obsession: The One Role He Refused to Let Go Of!

Tom Cruise is a Hollywood institution, known for headlining some of the biggest blockbusters in cinema history. Over the span of his four-decade career, he’s become synonymous with box office success, starring in iconic franchises like Mission: Impossible and Top Gun. Despite a few missteps—The Mummy flopped, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back underperformed, and Rock of Ages fell flat—Cruise has remained a force at the box office. His name alone is enough to guarantee attention, making him one of the few stars who can open a film based purely on his involvement.

That’s why it’s so surprising that Cruise, who’s come so close to perfecting the art of cinematic success, once set his sights on starring in what would become the biggest bomb in Hollywood history: John Carter (2012). A film that was both highly anticipated and universally panned, John Carter is remembered not just for its derivative plot, but for its colossal financial failure. The movie lost an estimated $200 million, making it one of the most disastrous films ever released by a major studio.

So, why would someone like Tom Cruise—a man who has practically made his career out of hits—want to be involved in such a high-risk project? The answer lies in his deep connection to the source material.

John Carter, based on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ 1912 novel A Princess of Mars, had a long and complicated history before it ever hit theaters. Burroughs’ work had served as the inspiration for countless science fiction franchises, including Star Wars, Superman, and Flash Gordon. Yet, by the time Disney decided to adapt the book into a major motion picture, the story had become somewhat stale in the eyes of many. Critics noted that the film felt more derivative than innovative, despite its roots in a novel that helped shape the sci-fi genre.

Cruise’s personal connection to John Carter dates back to the 1990s, when he first became interested in the project. Back then, director John McTiernan was circling the film, and Cruise had already attached himself to the idea of playing the titular character. However, the movie languished in development hell for years, and it wasn’t until a decade later that it finally began to come to life under the direction of Andrew Stanton.

Even though Stanton ultimately cast Taylor Kitsch in the lead role of John Carter, Cruise remained steadfast in his desire to be a part of the project. “Tom had a long history with the material, so it wasn’t too surprising to discover he still had an interest in it,” Stanton recalled in an interview with The Wrap. “He was a consummate professional in his discussions with me about the role and beyond respectful to the fact I was already on an audition path with Taylor.”

While Stanton was open to discussing the role with Cruise if he passed on Kitsch, it never came to that. Kitsch’s starring role in John Carter, followed by his performance in Battleship (released just weeks apart), marked the beginning of a downturn in his career. Unfortunately, the film’s enormous financial failure didn’t have the same effect on Cruise, whose box office reputation remained largely untarnished.

It’s fascinating to think about how the film might have affected Cruise’s career had he taken the role. John Carter is still regarded as one of the biggest flops in cinema history, and while Cruise is far from immune to a box office failure, this particular movie is one of the rare instances where his involvement didn’t turn a project into a hit.

For Cruise, his continued interest in the role of John Carter speaks to his passion for certain stories, and his willingness to risk everything in order to bring them to the big screen. Even though John Carter remains a cautionary tale in Hollywood history, it also highlights Cruise’s undying commitment to following his artistic instincts, even when it might not be the safest or most lucrative decision.

While Taylor Kitsch’s career has struggled to recover from John Carter and Battleship, it’s curious to consider how the film’s disastrous financial outcome would have affected Cruise’s standing in Hollywood. Would it have dimmed his star power, or would he have been able to bounce back just as quickly as he did after other flops? One thing is for sure: Tom Cruise’s history of turning movies into gold has made him the kind of actor who can afford to take chances, even when it means starring in the biggest bomb in cinema history.