TOM CRUISE - MGM UNITES WITH CRUISE

MGM UNITES WITH CRUISE

MGM is bringing United Artists back from history and handing it over to Tom Cruise and his production partner, Paula Wagner, to run it. The company, once again manifesting its determination to remain an independent entity following its acquisition by an investment consortium that included Sony Films, said that Cruise and Wagner were being given a "substantial ownership" of UA and would have full control over the company's production slate. In what was regarded as a slap at Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone, who had declared only last week that he had cut his company's ties to Cruise because "stars don't make a picture, the script does," the MGM announcement said that it wanted to recognize "what made UA great in the first place -- studio management by creative talent who can best encourage and support other creative talent." UA was founded by actors Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks and director D.W. Griffith in 1919. "We welcome the opportunity to contribute to that legacy," said Cruise in a statement. Redstone issued a statement, too, saying, "I wish Tom and his associates the greatest good fortune on their new venture."

03/11/2006