JERRY BRUCKHEIMER - BRUCKHEIMER: 'CRUISE IS STILL THE BIGGEST STAR IN THE WORLD'

Hollywood producer JERRY BRUCKHEIMER insists TOM CRUISE is still one of the biggest stars in the world, despite the end of his partnership with Paramount Pictures. The chairman of Viacom - Paramount's parent company - SUMNER REDSTONE - announced on Wednesday (23AUG06) the studios would not be renewing Cruise's 14-year production deal due to his "recent conduct" over the past year. Cruise received a barrage of negative publicity last year (05) due to his public displays of affection with fiancee KATIE HOLMES, his promotion of his controversial religion Scientology and his verbal bashing of the actress BROOKE SHIELDS for her "misguided" use of prescription drugs to treat her post-partum depression. Despite Cruise's diminished popularity amongst film fans and Paramount bosses, TOP GUN producer Bruckheimer tells the New York Daily News, "Mr Redstone has the right to say what he wants. It's not what I would do. "Tom is one of the biggest stars in the world, and that hasn't changed."