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Tom Cruise Finally Opens Up About Nicole Kidman and Their Controversial Film After 26 Years

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In 1990, this once-prominent Hollywood duo, which included Nicole Kidman, tied the knot and parted ways in 2001. Throughout their union, they appeared together in various projects, one of them being the 1999 film “Eyes Wide Shut”.

For the first time in 1990, the actors appeared side by side on the screen in the sports drama “Days of Thunder”. They collaborated again in the epic Western “Far and Away” in 1992. After a while, they pursued individual projects until they teamed up once more in Stanley Kubrick’s last film, “Eyes Wide Shut”. In an exclusive interview with Sight and Sound for the May issue, Tom Cruise spoke highly of Nicole Kidman’s acting abilities and revealed some previously undisclosed details about her role.

In the latest interview, the actor reminisced about several memorable characters from his career, such as his role in “Eyes Wide Shut“. “It was truly enjoyable,” Cruise said of the experience. “I felt quite energized to take it on. I had a deep appreciation for Stanley’s films, and Sydney Pollack played a role in connecting us,” he added. “Stanley reached out to Sydney because he wanted me to star in one of his movies. He sent me a fax.

The actor shared that he “flew to his home and eventually touched down in his backyard,” and they spent the day discussing the script. “I had seen all of his movies beforehand. We conversed about Scorsese and Sydney Pollack, so I was familiar with his work and methods.” At that point, Cruise was in England as Kidman was filming 1996’s “The Portrait of a Lady,” and they visited him together.

Regarding the movie, Cruise shared that it was him who proposed casting Kidman in her role, stating “she’s an exceptional actress.” The leading man of Mission: Impossible elaborated, “The idea came about as we were getting to know each other better. During our time together, I recommended Nicole for the part [of Alice] because she’s undeniably a fantastic actress.

Initially, Stanley Kubrick mulled over Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger as potential replacements for Bill and Alice Hartford. He requested Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman to hold off on other projects until the movie was done. “I knew this was going to be a lengthy production,” Cruise explained. “He kept saying, ‘No, no, no. We’ll wrap up in three or four months.’ I replied, ‘Stanley, let me tell you, I’m here for you. Whatever it takes, we’re going to make this happen…’ I found the project intriguing, and I wanted to be a part of it.

In a clear and conversational manner, The actor from Top Gun elaborated on his approach, stating, “When I start working on a film, I conduct extensive research and spend a lot of time with the team before I agree to the project. This way, I grasp their requirements and expectations, and they get to know me and how we can collaborate effectively to produce something truly exceptional.

Eyes Wide Shut Was a Controversial Release

Kubrick harbored a desire to create this movie since his early days in filmmaking, but it took years for the project to materialize. Unfortunately, the director didn’t live to see the film’s release in cinemas as he passed away beforehand. The completion status of the movie at Kubrick’s death was a topic of discussion among many. Critics felt that the blend of erotic mystery and psychological drama was overly lengthy and expressed reservations about the acting performance.

The classic film “Eyes Wide Shut” is still widely recognized… The movie also boasts the title for one of the longest continuous film shoots, as it took approximately 15 months to complete and featured an uninterrupted shoot of 46 weeks. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film received a 76% Certified Fresh rating from critics, while audiences gave it a thumbs-up with a 74% approval rating on the Popcornmeter. Despite a hefty production budget of $65 million, “Eyes Wide Shut” managed to earn only $162 million globally (according to Box Office Mojo). Notably, it was Stanley Kubrick’s highest-grossing film.

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2025-05-10 22:16

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