Tom Cruise and MGM Form New UA

HOLLYWOOD: Substantiating rumors that he is not persona non grata with the major studios, Tom Cruise has effectively been given a push to create his own studio: UA, packaged as a relaunch of the United Artists studio to the pubic but translated to "Unmarketable Artist" in LA circles (though the "A" has also been translated to other, less savory words as well). On the heels of a year that saw Cruise jump on Oprah's couch, defiantly support Scientology and fail miserably in MI:3, MGM felt that this course was the best for all parties. "We're sure that Tom still appeals to someone, somewhere", said a studio exec familiar with the deal. "But until we can turn those dwindling numbers into some real dollars, it's time to give Tom a bit more distance from us".

Cruise's appeal has been on the downswing ever since Jerry Maguire. Notwithstanding the flash of the first two MIs, the lightening of his hair in Collateral and other attempts at regaining the stardom he had way back when he was singing in his underwear, stardom seems to finally be passing Mr. Cruise by. However, Cruise feels that by going on on his own, "I'll get to make movies that REALLY appeal to the public". Just which public is anyone's guess.