PRODUCER PAULA WAGNER LEAVES TOM CRUISE AT THE UNITED ARTISTS COMMAND
This Wednesday, one of the most successful societies in Hollywood today ended amid the greatest mystery. Producer Paula Wagner announced her resignation from the position of executive and head of United Artist, the legendary film company that she acquired with Tom Cruise and that both have recently tried to re-float, but under the affiliation to MGM.
Although he will still hold interests in these companies, Wagner appears to have thrown in the towel at how slow and difficult it was to revive the company founded many decades ago by Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and D.W. Griffith.
So far the only film that the duo has released with this company was Lions for Lambs, which, as you know, was received very warmly in every way.
Apparently, the production company had a lot of conflicts from the beginning between its efforts discussed with Cruise, and the policy of the MGM producers. Even the first response of the directors of this house was to say that "she should have done better." Now they also insist that Cruise will be the one to take command without problems day by day, which would conflict with the actor's attempts to revive his career, which in recent months has been overshadowed by his little more than "peculiar" family life made the talk of the most sensational tabloids.
Regardless, Wagner has indicated that her long business and friendship relationship with the star (dating back to 1993) remains the same, despite the disappointment that United Artists clearly appears to have been to her. He carefully declares:
I have really enjoyed working with my long time partner Tom Cruise to revitalize United Artists, I am proud of all that we have accomplished in the last two years, reinvigorating the brand and developing a good group of films. But I always tell my kids 'follow your passion', and I have to take that advice myself. As much as I have enjoyed my time as an executive, I have to return to my true love, which is making movies, that's what I have decided to do. I still believe in our vision for United Artists, and I am confident that MGM colleagues will see that vision through reality.
For now, Wagner is wasting no time and continues to work with her partner on various projects that were previously in full process. One of them includes is the film version of the English television series Champions, which was originally developed by director Guillermo Del Toro. Another is the complicated Valkyrie, whose premiere could be advanced to be able to sneak into the Oscar springboard.
