TOM CRUISE - CRUISE FLU COSTS SPIELBERG $60,000

TOM CRUISE suffered a bout of influenza last week (ends04MAR05) and took two days off from shooting forthcoming blockbuster THE WAR OF THE WORLDS - costing director STEVEN SPIELBERG over $60,000 (GBP31,500).

Cruise's illness meant the 200 extras who had been employed to work on set last Thursday (03MAR05), still had to be paid despite being given the day off thanks to his unavoidable absence.

An insider says, "There were more than 200 extras in place when word reached the studio that Tom wouldn't make it to work.

"Even thought this meant the extras got the day off, Spielberg's production company still has to pay the $60,000 owed to them."